Personally, making the distinction between me feeling stressed and me feeling hungry has been one of the best mindset shifts I’ve made towards eating.

And now after having 100’s of conversations with guys about food, I think stress eating is a common problem.

Here were three mistakes I personally made that led to me stress eating.

1. I wasn’t praying

The #1 mistake I made with stress was not bringing those things to the Lord.

Here’s a sure promise from God that has helped me deal with my own stress and anxiety.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”

– Philippians 4:6-7

 

2. I was only stress eating ultra-processed food

I wasn’t stress eating apples, bananas, berries, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, baby carrots, avocados, or cantaloupe.

Instead I was grabbing tortilla chips, cookies, and pastries. These ultra-processed foods are designed to be delicious, and the soothing balm they provide is very short-lived.

3. I wasn’t drinking water when I had the impulse to eat

At first, distinguishing the difference between hunger and stress is difficult.

So now when I’m not sure, I go for a glass of water first. If I’m still hungry, then I know it’s hunger. If not, then it’s probably stress.

Hope this serves!

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