The Fame of Health and Fitness

Let’s Talk Dirty

Whether you have a full time career, attend school full time, or are a full time parent/homemaker, etc., we all experience some form of stress in our life.

When you’re feeling stressed, have you gone to food for comfort? If so, what kind of food?

I can specifically relate to this. In my last year of university I spent late nights working on the perfection of my degree and the only cure for my stress was food. Almost any kind of junk food would do the trick but my one go-to was cheddar cheese and Tostitos chips or salted pretzels. My stress instantly depleted with each bite but after doing this night after night and month after month, it catches up to you. Almost 40lbs later I hit rock bottom. I can go on but I will wait until Oxygen publishes “MY SUCCESS STORY” on April 3rd, 2012 for you to read how my story continues.

When I am stressed in the present, I still have cravings. Those cravings are for SUGAR! I will crave chocolate, candy, cake, dried fruit, cupcakes etc. When this feeling is high I know it correlates with the level of stress I’m experiencing.

Some things that I do when I am stressed and have cravings are:

• chew gum
• eat carrots
• have something sweet but clean for dinner like pancakes or PB cups
• have a TBSP of PB or almond butter
• buy just a few pieces of dried mango from the bulk section so I can control the amount I take home with me
• drink a Diet Pop (trying to move away from this because of the aspartame)
• reschedule my “cheat meal” to an earlier date if my body needs it
• go workout to relieve stress
• meet a friend for coffee or have a phone conversation to vent
• drink a green tea
• stop and think in the present as to why I am feeling this way
• remind myself that eating junk will only be a temporary solution to the stress I am experiencing

What do you do when you’re feel stressed and crave junk food?