Stress eating

Do you ever reach for a cupcake when you are sad or stressed out? How about a bag of baked chips or a box of Honey nut cheerios? Of course, I am not saying I do this...or that I did it this week, I just want to know your failures:)

In all seriousness, I had my weigh in today and what I knew deep down was inevitable, i went up 1.8 pounds. I am pretty sure it's because I not only consumed the above, but ate more less calories/processed foods this past week. The week before we ate out about six times. So, really this should be no surprise. It's still very disappointing and of course, I just want to throw in the towel and eat cake into an oblivion.

But, alas, I know that I truly love healthy, whole foods and in order to feel my best, its what I have to consume. I've been consistently eating, real, organic whole foods for over three years now and putting these foods into pieces of artwork are really a passion of mine.

So, I have to remind myself that I am not on a diet and I am not restricting myself. This only leads to obsessing. In reality. this is how I would eat anyway...just less portions now.

Being the astute problem solver I am, I did what any logical person would do. I took myself and my toddler in pajamas to Kroger...okay, I had on scrubs so technically I was okay. My toddler had on a raincoat that covered his mom's lack of impulse control.

I stocked up on organic pears, apples, bananas, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, water, clementines, veggie soups, my boars head turkey, etc. I am praying that I can find my center this week and stop using food to handle stress or stuff emotions.



So, I ask again, do you stress/emotional eat? I think this is something I've always struggled with and to me it is just as unhealthy as looking to pills, tv, cigarettes, alochol, etc to fill an emptiness that is pervasive. Its the same with exercise. Since college, I have not used exercise as a way to control weight. I do it because I love it, its a passion, and lets face it-endorphins are awesome. When I find myself wanting to exercise to control weight, I check myself before I wreck myself..ya feel me?

How do you handle those times of reaching for chips instead of looking to God or that desire for wholeness?