When stress strikes, strike back
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What is stress? It is fear that can take over your rational thoughts and sabotage everything you have worked so hard for.
As I sat down to write about stress and ways of dealing with it, I had to smile. What I am about to write is the information I know has worked for me previously but in recent times I’ve not followed. So while I share my tips with you, I will be re-educating myself as well.
So often we turn to comfort eating in times of stress. Do you ever wonder about the words “Comfort” and “Eat”? What is so comforting about eating rubbish foods? We often end up binging on them and feel really awful afterwards. Yes these foods may taste good as we are eating them but are they worth jeopardizing our goals for? Are they worth sabotaging our hard work for? No I don’t think so. In fact I think the words “Comfort Eating” should be replaced with “Guilty Eating” because that’s exactly how most of us feel afterwards.
What to do?
So what do you do when stress strikes? You stick to your plan even more rigidly than before, doing everything in your power to stay on top, keeping your ultimate weight loss goal in mind and weaken the saboteur inside yourself. Turn your focus to something else, anything else that will help you feel better in yourself and take your mind off your stress craving.
In my responses to our members weigh in comments I often suggest they read a book, listen to music, meditate, take a bath or do a hobby which may help. That’s because these are feel good things that will really help you feel comfort. Read a good book full of great images that will lift your mood. Self-help books, coaching books and self-development books will get you in the right mindset to deal with what is going on around you. Meditating is a great way of getting in touch with yourself and helps you relax your body and mind. I do realise that not everybody can meditate, however there are so many apps and You Tube clips that can help you to learn. When you feel relaxed you are more focused and will be able to work through things clearly. Listening to music can really lift your spirits too and you might even get dancing which will burn those pounds.
Hobbies are great for escapism. I make handmade items such as cards, jewellery and altered items. I always find I’m in a world of my own when I craft, time seems to stop and I’ve no cares at all. Having non-food ways to escape the stress is much more beneficial to you than eating. Keeping activities can improve your weight loss and you’ll feel so much better that you will no longer be tempted to fill that void with food. Write out a list of the hobbies you can enjoy which will help distract you, change your mood and even make you feel motivated again. When stress strikes refer to your lift and don’t let food be your answer.
Kind regards,
Niamh O'Grady
My Page
Good advice. I play guitar as a hobby which takes my mind off my stressful job.
Comment by CATHERINEEVANS1973 -
Great advice here thank you. I get absorbed in crafts too, I make little fairies as a hobby and when I am doing that I am so relaxed & peaceful time flies. Another thing I have found helpful is to treat myself to a really gorgeous bath bomb, soap or massage bar. I find replacing fragrance with taste has helped me overcome chocolate cravings & I find that vanilla works well as its quite chocolatey. I like your term guilty eating, it's more accurate than comfort
Comment by BROWN230658 -
My problem is the guilty eating. I also eat the wrong foods when I'm tired for quick energy. This has helped me gain 3 stone in the last year and now I need to reverse the trend. I have a wedding to go to in a month and this has given me added motivation. My will power has been weak previously so I really need to dig in this time... HELP!
Comment by LIZZI333 -
Thanks for the reminder - need to keep stress at bay - it isn't good for any of us!
Comment by GRANARY1 -
Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given me, but for the time being I will stop being a member, for all I have lost so little I have not picked up again. The problem is not you or the diet the problem is me, so until I sort myself out I will leave it there with the hope that one day I will join you again.
Sincerely, Mary Wishart
Comment by HEAVENLY2012 -
Comment by S9731534 -