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Stressed? Snacking Can Help ... Put On Weight (No...Really?)
Internet Broadcast System ^ | 2/14/06 | Staff

Posted on 02/14/2006 10:56:21 AM PST by Millee

Snacking under stress can contribute to weight gain, and new research shows the snacking doesn't stop for women when the pressure slacks off.

Jennifer Waugh, a clinical nutrition manager at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, said stress is a common trigger for snacking, especially eating comfort foods, including sweets, pastries, soft drinks or chips.

"It seems like people either want sweet, bland, salty, chocolate, high-fat things that are not healthy and are very much considered junk food," Waugh said. "You can have a bottled water, that's always good, or yogurt or milk because it has protein that can make you feel satiated."

Dr. Jonathon Rich said while stress snacking happens to both sexes, women succumb to it more often.

"The first thing is to recognize that you're doing it, that when you're stressed, you're going to be eating something. So, if you're gaining extra weight, stop and look at your habits," Rich said.

"One thing is to figure out what your body wants and what works for you," Waugh said. "If it's chocolate you want, can you be around chocolate, or can you buy the little individual portions? Just eat that and be done with it? Or, should you not be around it at all?"

The experts also suggested substituting other activities for snacking, like taking a 10-minute walk, reading a good book, meditating or simply calling a friend -- anything that will take your mind off the food.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: snacking; stress; weight
The experts also suggested substituting other activities for snacking, like taking a 10-minute walk, reading a good book,

Yea...reading

1 posted on 02/14/2006 10:56:22 AM PST by Millee
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To: Millee

stress snacker here...it's amazing how much you can loose
when you realize how awful you are being to yourself in
the long run and stop snacking! :)


2 posted on 02/14/2006 11:08:02 AM PST by leda (Dream a better dream and work to make it reality!)
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To: leda

Yep! I trick I've learned (but not employed often enough) is to chew gum. I've also heard that if you brush your teeth you'll lose a food craving. Who knows? I'd have to blush em bloody to lose chips/salsa craving though! ;o)


3 posted on 02/14/2006 11:22:54 AM PST by Millee (The Constitution was meant for us to live under, not be paralyzed by, in the face of death. - Sowell)
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To: Millee

ive never heard of that before, but thats a great idea!
i just drink loads of water and cut out tons of junk.
so far so good, i've lost over 40 lbs already and i'm
still going strong! most people who know me don't even
recognize me now. :)


4 posted on 02/14/2006 11:29:47 AM PST by leda (Dream a better dream and work to make it reality!)
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To: leda

Good for you!!!!! I'm a yo-yo dieter so I know how hard it is to lose weight! Keep up the good work!


5 posted on 02/14/2006 11:32:51 AM PST by Millee (The Constitution was meant for us to live under, not be paralyzed by, in the face of death. - Sowell)
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To: Millee

awww thanks! i've been on that yoyo myself and have
never been happier to be off that ride than now. ;)


6 posted on 02/14/2006 11:46:07 AM PST by leda (Dream a better dream and work to make it reality!)
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