Stress and eating: a match made in college

I used to think I handled stress well. This was mainly because I haven’t outright clobbered anyone or broken down screaming about whether Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire was a better Spiderman (yet). My strategy tends to be, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going to the vending machine.” It occurs to me that this could be problematic.

Stress levels have been astronomical for the first month of the semester.  I’d tell you I’d fallen off the health wagon this last week, but that would mean I’d gotten on the wagon in the first place. It’s a considerable victory that I’m currently sipping on water instead of the bottle of Coke I really wanted. As a reward, I got a giant sugar cookie from U. Brew.

It’s hard to write a fitness blog when I have yet to do anything to alter my lifestyle, but this is as good a place as any to start. College is a challenging time in life, and eating provides a certain amount of comfort to me. The more carbs and sugar, the better! This usually leaves me feeling full and sleepy, so I drink a soda or two for energy. Then I look in the mirror and wonder how on earth I managed to gain 30 pounds in four years.

Admittedly, I’ve gone the other way too. I’d skip breakfast, have a small lunch, limit myself to a can of soda instead of a bottle. This still leaves me tired and cranky, and I usually end up eating a giant dinner and going straight to bed anyway. With not so much as a jumping jack to burn the calories in between supper and sleep, I was no healthier than when I just ate whenever and whatever I wanted.

People smarter than me would have realized sooner that the key lies in how I deal with stress. Eating is good and necessary — for goodness sake, keep eating — but perhaps don’t let food be your coping mechanism. There’s a nugget of wisdom in “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

My goal for the next few weeks is to just get going — for a walk, bike ride or even a poorly choreographed dance party when no one else is home, instead of snuggling in bed with half a pizza.

This seems like a no brainer, and that’s because it is. I know this will make me feel better and healthier, but habits are hard to break. But here’s to the first step, and having a more substantial update this time next week.