Confessions of a Stress Eater

Hi, my name is Andy and I’m a stress eater.

Boy it feels good to finally get that out there.

You know, honestly, I’ve never struggled with drinking or drugs.

In truth, I’ve never really tried either of them.

I was too afraid of drugs and too cheap for alcohol.

My “go to” has always been food.

Food makes me feel better.

We all cope with life and stress differently and my “medication” usually comes in the form of sugary snacks.

I wish it wasn’t the case, but it is.

I am a stress eater.

Is there such a thing as a “stress exerciser”? Maybe a “stress health food nut”?

In the short term, eating relieves the tension. Over the long haul however, your body pays the price.

When I graduated high school I weighed in at 190 lbs.

Partway through my sophomore year in college I had added an easy 10 pounds to help push me to the 200 lbs category.

I never thought about what I was eating or why, I just ate.

I distinctly remember looking at a picture of myself during college that caused me to double take. I knew I was overweight. I had to do something about it.

So I did.

Before my wedding I trimmed down as best I could.

After we were married Stacey cooked and baked and my relatively sedate job took its toll.

At my biggest, in 2009, I was fluctuating between 210-215 lbs.

It was time to act.

I started charting calories. For the first time in my life I really measured what I was eating.

Over three spring months I dropped roughly 25 and got to my lowest weight since my days as a Kentridge Charger, 187 lbs.

What a great feeling.

So that’s the back-story. All of that leads me to today. This morning I weighed in at 205 lbs (wow, that sucks) and once again it’s time to act.

My target weight is 185 lbs and I’m going to do my best to get there.

I’m not sure why, but I need people to know. I feel like it keeps me on the right track.

What’s my plan?

To eat healthier. I don’t do the diet thing. I love food way too much.

Instead, I will try to limit the amount of food I eat.

I use an app called Lose It.

 

 

 

 

 

It allows me to count what I’m eating (calories in).

As well as what I burn (calories “out”).

The goal is net calories per day.

As much as it helps that others know about my goal what will help me even more would be knowing others are along for the ride as well.

I invite you, without judgment to join my “Lose It Campaign”.

What’s the strategy?

I’m going to be using the Lose It App. There are lots of other great apps out there but this one works best for me.

It’s all about calories in and out (burned).

You tell the app your current weight and your goal weight. Then magically Lose It gives you a recommended calorie allowance per day to reach your goal.

The best part for me is there are no food restrictions. Meat, cheese, pasta, breads, and even sweets are allowed as long as they fit into your allotted calories per day.

What do I want from you?

In truth, nothing.

I just thought it’d be cool if we all did this together.

What I’d love to see happen is people coming out of the woodwork and joining our Lose It Campaign.

To Join:

Reply to this post with your current weight and goal weight.

Every Friday report back with your updated information.

Are you up for the challenge?

I’m starting now. I’ve found the least effective get healthy plans always start “tomorrow.”

Today is the day.

Here is my info:

Current weight – 208 lbs

Goal weight – 185 lbs

How about you? Are you in?

Lets “Lose It” together.

18 thoughts on “Confessions of a Stress Eater

  1. started at 240 4 years ago and could lift the bars at the gym.

    current weight: 209/ 33% body fat
    Goal: 180 and 26% body fat
    Current lifts are: bench 105, deadlift 230, leg press 440, OHP 65. 50 min cardio 4 days a week

    Love this app! Really helped me narrow down my habits and it’s a great encouragement to the bottom line at the end of the week.
    Go get ’em tiger.

    • So cool Gillian. I love the Lose It App too. Just the fact that you record what you eat makes you think twice about it. Congrats on your progress thus far.

  2. Whelp… current weight somewhere above 200. (I will weigh myself at the gym to get an exact total)
    Goal weight 180.
    I need a California beach body. Not a California Manteca (actual city name that I live by, which coincidentally means lard) body.

  3. Hi Andy, I’m a stress eater too. And yes, there is such a thing as a stress exerciser because I am that too – and its the only reason I don’t have more to lose than I do. Kudos to you for encouraging people to become more healthy 🙂

    Starting weight: 136
    Goal: 127

  4. I love this. This is just yet another avenue to help keep me focused on my personal goal. Thank you Andy!

    Current: 177
    Goal: 145

  5. I used to use that app and remember being in the best shape I’ve ever been. Been feeling a little “gross” lately, so thank you for the motivation to start it back up again!

    Current: 155
    Goal: 135

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