Eating for comfort & no motivation

[LuLu_]

Hello

I am new and was hoping anyone could share insight about how to gain some motivation.

I am doing my year 12 exams and I worked really hard to study for a subject I was really behind on and now I have nothing left. Any tips?

My lack of motivation is making me not want to do much so i am oversleeping and staying in bed for a few hours during the day.

I am not sure if it’s boredom but I’m eating quite a bit of junk food. I am enjoying it because food is yummy especially sugar but I feel guilty because a balanced diet is always enforced and I am usually a relatively healthy person.

any tips for sugar cravings and a general want to “eat my feelings”?

Thank you for reading

xx

[MarkJT]

LuLu, I think you could do yourself a favor and have a chat to the GP about what is going on. You are under a fair bit of stress at the moment so would be good to have a professional help you out with some advice.

With the food, I am a chip monster. If there is a pack of chips in the house, i obliterate the whole pack no probs so I just don't buy them now and if i want to snack, I get some fruit and yoghurt. Tastes nice and is healthy.

Empty the kitchen of crap food is a good way and pre-make/pack healthy food options that you can replace the crap food with.

Another way is to challenge yourself. i.e. I am now into my 15th month without a can of full sugar coke. After a while you get to a stage where you do not want to break "The Streak". It is surprisingly motivating to keep it going.

Similar to this for exercise motivation, walk, run or swim a certain distance a day and try and do that each day. Motivation only lasts so long and then it becomes a habit so if you can do it for long enough, you will find that you will just do it because that is what you do.

How do those sound?

Mark

[LuLu_]

Hi Mark

im coming out of a depression so my GP is informed of what’s going on, but thanks for the advice.

its weird my motivation spikes and then falls dramatically. It’s quite off putting. I am not sure if I just burn out quickly or if I get tired because i am doing too much too quick.

I do like fruit and yoghurt so that sounds like a good idea 🙂

thank you for your advice, I hope you are well 🙂

[MsPurple]

Hi LuLu.

Thanks for posting a thread on the forums. Exams can be a hard time. I remember doing my year 12 exams. I struggled with anxiety during them and depression. Like you (and even still) I struggle with going to bed during the day when I feel low. My psychologist suggested when I feel low and unmotivated that I should write a to do list. It helps me keep on track with my tasks and it keeps me from getting anxious by feeling overwhelmed for all the stuff I need to do. In year 12 I would right a to do list like: Math - statistics or tree diagnams AND Biology - reproduction. Sometimes I would put it as a time schedule like Math 2 hours. Sorry it has been 8 years since I did year 12

With emotional eating I think it is something a lot of people struggle with but don't want to acknowledge. It can be a cycle hard to break but you can do it. I suggest trying other satisfying things like having a bath, watching a movie, meditation. I know these maybe not as good as eating sugary things but it helps with distraction. I also try eating healthier sugars to make up for it like some strawberries or other fruit. If you are worried about binge eating and it becoming a problem I suggest discussing this with a GP. I have struggled with an ED in the past and I couldn't have gotten better without my team. I am not saying you have one because people binge eating during stressful times is normal in that situation however if it overtakes your every thought it can become a problem.

I thought I should also link you to another forum that maybe helpful. Please copy and paste. They have some studying tips:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/young-people/eeep-when-study-is-overwhelming---tips-ideas-and-coping-strategies

MP

[LuLu_]

Thank you MP for your insightful response

i like lists but they tend to make me anxious as I am a perfectionist and need everything to be finished completely. Lists also frighten me at the moment because I have so much I need to do. But I will try it again. I also find it difficult to work for long periods of time due to lack of concentration ....

i will keep track of my eating. Lately it hasn’t been good but for now I don’t think there is reason for concern. I did buy some healthier snacks so hopefully I get a bit better at managing

thank you do much I am very grateful

lulu

[Guest_1055]

Hi LuLu,

I also comfort eat, to be honest I feel like eating these maltesers right now. The reason is for comfort, because I do feel sad at the moment. I agree with Ms Purple you feel like you are in a cycle. It is a real challenge to get out of it. Sugar is highly addictive.

Some things I have done, when the sugar cravings hit me in the past is eat high fibre foods to fill my tummy up. Like 6 mandarins in one go or 2 big cobs of corn ( no butter). Bunches and bunches of grapes. Large green smoothies or any homemade fruit smoothie ( no added refined sugars though) . Vegetables any sort. Smoothies that have say almond butter in them along with fruits. There is plenty of recipes online for smoothies.

Another strategy I have used is say to yourself .... Well of course I can eat some chocolate, but I need to drink a few glasses of water first, eat a couple of pieces of fruit and do some kind of exercise, like walking or gym. Then I can eat the malteesers . Now this has worked a lot for me, because you are not really saying you can't have any junk, you are giving yourself permission to actually eat some. But by the time you have done the exercise, filled your tummy up with fibre rich fruit and drunk the water, well the craving often goes.

Shell xx

[LuLu_]

Can we share the maltesers? 🙂

i hope you feel better soon. My best wishes to you.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful advice. I feel that these strategies will be beneficial in many ways. Of course they may require some hard work and some time but you have made me think perhaps I can do this.

i am very grateful.

i really do hope you feel better soon

lulu x

[Guest_1055]

Yes you can do it lulu!

Oh yes ... maltesers why do they have to be so yummy?? I did not eat them though , I decided to cut into this fresh pineapple and eat chunks of that. Do you want some chunks, I would be happy to share some of that?

Thankyou for your kindness too.

Shell xx

[MsPurple]

Man malteses would go down well right now while I am watching netflix.

I sometimes find list can make me a bit anxious too so I try say to myself "if I do half of my list that is a job well done" For me it is an achievement if I get through half of it. I don't always make it a full day structure but more of a goal for a few days or so. My psych also suggested I try make a list in order of Very hard to Easy. SO it is easy for me to have a shower so that would be on the easy section and studying for 2 hours would be on the hard because of my poor concentration. So you can see your victories as victories no matter how big or small

[LuLu_]

I like how you described the importance of noticing our victories no matter how big or small.

I think this is a message that should be shared. If the people around me insisted on this idea I would have felt much less of a failure.

i don’t think people emphasise enough the importance of small victories or even acknowledge them

thank you very much Ms Purple!!