Coping Mechanisms

yellowcorvettegirl

I am sure we can all say that our main coping mechanism for dealing with all of life's stresses is eating, which is the main reason we are here in the first place. I was just wondering what are some of the different ways everyone deals with their stresses without turning to food. It seems everytime something adverse comes up in my life, I fall off the wagon and have the hardest time getting back on. I would appreciate some input from everyone. Hope y'all have a great day!!! :~)

klmmoore

I remember awhile ago watching some talk show with Bob from Biggest Loser and he said don't wait for Monday to start, or the 1st of the month, just start. That was always hard for me. I would always tell myself on Monday I would start working out and eating better. After I heard that it made me think, what was I waiting for? Just do it!

Kerri

MarieS1967

The Million Dollar Question? I remind myself how good I feel, how much better my clothes fit and how much better I look! I am down a total of 24 lbs since January 2010. It has been a long slow road, HOWEVER, I am making better choices some of which have become habit.

I buy only light bread (35 - 40 calories per slice), skim milk, 1/2 the slice or no cheese on sandwiches, mustard vs. mayo, Baked Lays, a warmed banana with chocolate chips for a "FIX"

I have not yet reached my goal, but the changes I have made are my life now, I am not perfect, I am human.

Focus on WHAT YOU ARE DOING WELL and stay on track! Good Luck!

llyndon

I still fall off the difference this time is I get right back on. So I may blow a meal, a day or occasionally a whole week ( vacaaaation) but I keep entering my meals in here no matter WHAT I eat and before long I'm back on track. Keeping a food diary has been the one thing that I believe has kept me on point. Right now, I haven't lost much of anything but I'm not gaining either. I've just hit a plateau and I know it's no big deal, It'll pass and I'll start to lose again. Good luck!

ChubbieTubbie

I'm not one who really eats when I'm sad or stressed, I'm a bored-eater. So when I find myself wanting to snack on something, I try to do something else instead. If I finish my activity and I'm still hungry, then I go ahead and get something to eat then. I've also started reading a lot more now that I'm watching what I eat--it gives me something to do and it's an escape from when life gets stressful. I keep hoping I'll turn into someone who runs or does some other sort of vigorous exercise to cope with stress, but so far it hasn't happened. lol.

When I have an off day of eating, I just do better the next day and move on. What's done is done, and I know that overall I am eating a lot better and making better choices. For the most part, I'm good at asking myself if what I want to eat is really worth blowing my calories on. Usually the answer is no, sometimes the answer is yes and I log it in, exercise a bit more and move forward.

orange_avocado

ChubbieTubbie, I'm a bored eater as well. Nowadays I try and keep myself busy by scheduling exercise so I know I won't blow it off. This leaves less time to sit in front of the TV and want to snack.

And now that it's getting cold, when I get bored and feel the urge to eat I make a cup of hot herbal tea with some honey. It gives me something sweet to occupy my mouth and I'm usually over the food urge by the end of the cup.