Stress related overeating - help?

[EmbarrassedPossessed]

I'm really struggling at the moment with overeating, mainly as a reaction to stress, too much work to do, and being over tired. I'm definitely using sugar as a crutch to get me through the day, alongside caffeine. Eating is also a mindless release from a stressful and busy day.

I'm getting soo panicked about how big I'm getting (probably at least 7 st overweight) as it just keeps getting worse.

How do you stop the cycle?? It's like I'm on some kind of weird autopilot at the moment - I know what I should/shouldn't be doing but I can't stop myself from bingeing. Then I get really down about how big I am and what I look like, and it adds to the stress and panic, resulting in more overeating.

I realised i posted at a v antisocial time, so bumping for today...

Watching for answers......I'm in the same boat and totally get your autopilot description

You cartainly aren't alone in this.

Out of the day itself, doing things like light exercise can be more helpful, or pampering yourself, having non food treats that you kn

Argh phone scrolled and I hit post sorry.

Having non food treats thought out and available can work. Not that it stopped me hitting the biscuit tub yesterday!!

There's always the option of bringing only healthy snacks to work, or making yourself drink a drink first before you eat.

The trouble is its so hard to make those choices when all your energy is going into dealing with a stressful situation.

Maybe you first need to pause and pat yourself on the back for keeping afloat as much as you are. That might take a little of the emotion out of your eating?

I've recently started the fast diet/5:2 diet because I can't have willpower all week. I can't imagine starting it in an already stressful situation.

As an aside is there anything to can do to handle the stress/busyness?

Thanks Patilla. I know all the things I should/could be doing better, but the stress just overloads all of that.

Work days are better than non work days, although when I get in from work I'm so shattered that I often use sugar/fatty foods as a lift to keep me going through the evening. I also struggle to cook/prepare healthy food after a work day. The answer to that is probably to cook things in advance on the weekends. But I never seem to get around to it! I should just pull my finger out!

I think the main thing that comes through from why you've written is to need to realise how amazing you are.

You're in a stressful situation and yes you might not be making amazing food choice but you're keeping on going.

I think you're first step is to see yourself in light of all the things you're probably doing really well.

I've never succeeded at healthier eating when I feel terrible about myself.

I've not cracked the emotional eating. I don't know if I ever will. Hopefully there's someone out there who can tell us all the secret. But you're not alone in this.

On the batch cooking, I have to do this for my family anyway. I book myself an afternoon or evening and put a trashy film on the laptop (keeping it away from the food!) and it's not so bad. I started up a rolling programme where one evening a week I make at least four meals worth of a particular meal. Then I've got a month's supply of having it once a week. If each week for a month you bulk cook four meals of a different meal, you've potentially got a store of four meals a week for a month if things are busy.

Does that make sense?