There's probably some profound insight I could make here, but I'll leave that to more powerful intellects and just share an observation about stress levels and appetite.
As the "battle of the bulge" continues, I've noticed that my eating habits are directly tied to my stress level. When I was dealing with the extreme stress of a recent family medical emergency, I had absolutely no appetite. I could go all day long and not feel the slightest bit of hunger. Clearly, this is not a preferred weight-loss method, but it was effective. Now that the crisis is over, I'm back to my normal level of way-too-much-stress, and my appetite has gone berserk! Somehow, my brain equates food to lower stress levels, even though I know better.
So, I can simplify the situation with this realization. I can't eat my stress away, and I need to find a healthier way to manage it. I should play more guitar, or ride my bike more often, or get back into lifting weights. All of those activities ease my mind and make me healthier.