Hungry, hungry, hungry--STRESS!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Sheesh. I need to do something. I keep gaining weight. I worked in a brain research lab so I understand how the brain works. I know when one is under stress, the brain makes a ton of a hormone that makes one super hungry. I know that it takes about 15 minutes for the brain to register what is IN the stomach. The problem is that I do NOT care and want to eat.

Somehow, I am going to have to gain a handle on my eating.

[Vrsherren]

Well, do you eat bananas? They have a lot of b6 to lower stress and also promote the production of seratonen (spelling at 4:30 a.m. not happening!). I don't really care for bananas all that much, but that is what a dr told me. I chew gum personally. I get the chewing action which seems to slow down the need to eat. I also drink water. Crystal Light, and other soft drinks. It's hard to stop the need to feed when stressed even when you know it's not the thing to do. Knowing that and controling it are not easy when pushed to the point of not caring. I think the worst part is feeling guility about giving in, which triggers yet another need to feed. It is easier for me to change a piece of sugar-free gum than give up the need. Even understanding it all doesn't seem to help any, but chewing does somehow. Must be one of those Freudian things our mothers did lol Anyway, try the banana snack and keep gum handy for a while and see if it can help some.
Did I mention I need to loose a lot and it's not moving?? 4 yrs ago I had a total hip surgery. Short version is I nearly died twice, so was in the hospital for a month, was on an 1800 calorie diet and lost a whopping 2 lbs. The dr. couldn't believe it either as he thought I'd loose at the very least 20 lbs. The only non hospital food or drink smuggled in was route 44 Sonic unsweet teas with 2 sweet n lows. So needing to loose and needing to feed aren't compatable for me either, but the chewing does help control it more easily.

Vivian

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I had to look it up, You are correct, bananas, as well as papaya and dates increase serotonin. The only one of those fruits that I think I could make myself eat is papaya.

I think that as soon as the trial is over, some of the emotional weight will be reduced. Also, if I can ever finish my thesis, a HUGE load will be off. Things are always coming up at work too. I have student nurses coming to my office tomorrow and Wednesday. Today, as I was getting ready to go teach a class, the medical records clerk brought the new mental health counselor to my office so she could shadow me. So, I brought her along to my class. I thought it was interesting that when one of the inmates wanted to shake her hand, she refused. Other than that, she seemed very nice. Who knows, she may be a germ-a-phobe. I always carry hand sanitizer with me.

Anyway, I am hoping that the external factors that bring me stress reduce soon as it will be easier to control my eating when I have more time and energy to properly plan my eating habits.