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emk1907
emk1907 Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself

I’m 51 wanting to lose weight. The issues I have is I love certain foods and I’m a stress eater. Any helpful suggestions would be great. My in the end goal weight is 75 pounds.

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  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 10,219 Member

    welcome to MFP @emk1907


    First and most obvious would be to eliminate the source of stress, at least as much as possible. I quit a job, went “no contact” with a few family members, and an aggressively negative friend. Wow, did that help.

    You can be like the frog in boiling water and not even realize how it’s cranking up your stress levels.

    If you’re stressed, walk away from the desk or the stove and take a break. Go for a walk. Scientific studies have shown that being outdoors reduces stress. There’s even a thing nowadays called “tree bathing”.

    If you’re stress eating, take up a hobby. Having dirty hands is a no-no with many hobbies. I do all kinds of needlework. I can be jonesing for a snack, pick up some beading, and forty minutes has passed in a blink I’m no longer hungry.

    Make yourself a cup of unusual or luxurious tea or a nice coffee. My favorite tea right now is popcorn tea (aka genmaicha). Scent and mild flavor of popcorn. Sounds weird, but it’s refreshing, the smell is satisfying, and takes the edge off.

    I did a long swim this morning, came home hungry, so had an early lunch, supplemented with air popped popcorn (needed the salt, and it was a healthier choice than chips). That means I’ve already had my late afternoon snack. Uh oh. So I made an iced coffee and figured out how to make a tasty cold foam. That’s what I’m enjoying right now.

    Think about what’s triggering the stress eating and find techniques to either ignore, reduce, or eat “around”’it, with better choices.

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