STRESS

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wehave4
wehave4 Posts: 97 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I am curious to know how others deal with stress when dieting and eating healthy. I have been under a lot of stress lately and it seems that it really affects all the progress that I seem to accomplish. I feel like I'm running myself into the ground when this happens. I have tried going for walks but it just gives me more time to worry about a lot of things. I just have been having a difficult time trying to get my exercises in and just not having the energy to get through them or even start them at times. I've been feeling tired and lazy lately and some people have suggested it could be my allergies which I have severe allergies and I have taken so many different things for my allergies with prescriptions and over the counter medicines but nothing helps. I have asthma as well and just a month ago got over a 2 1/2 month illness with Pneumonia without being hospitalized. I didn't mean to go into such detail but I was just wondering what others do to help with stress. Thank you so much in advance for your replies.

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  • nancybuss
    nancybuss Posts: 1,461 Member
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    I do workout to help with stress. Although walking is good if you Want to work through those thoughts, but if you don't want to, I suggest something that keeps changing up so your mind has to focus on the moves.

    I like home DVD series things. There are plenty that are 30 minute programs. Some days you have to tell yourself you will give it 5 minutes and see if you have the energy. Once you start, its often there.

    Starting is the hardest part!!!! Absolutely!

    If you start your day with a workout, you will most likely have more energy all day. Make sure you're getting enough water too!

    So sorry on your illness and allergies!

    Good luck!

    Feel free to friend me or message me if you want more friends
    Nancy
  • thetimenexyear
    thetimenexyear Posts: 9
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    When I first started seriously four months ago i had the same problems. I gained weight not by over eating but due to stress and starving myself. This is your life. You're do or die. It makes you evaluate what your priorities are. I dropped, not kidding, I dropped 3 people in a week because they were draining me. Heck my cat even was a high source of stress as well as my neighborhood.

    I evaluated all my relationships and tried to let go with love. I made a spiritual practice priority in my life. I took time to deep breathe and be still for 5 minutes to start. I do things that make me happy. When we're on this journey it's an actually job! I think there's a work out t-shirt to that effect. The more research you do the more you'll realize your weight isn't solely about over eating. It's so unhealthy to be in a constant state of fight or flight that screws up the cortisol balance from what I've read, you can die. I had a stomach that poofed out like I was 6 months pregnant and I had STRESS marks to boot. I've never had a child in my life.

    Anyway, thanks for the topic and breathe. Namaste.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,867 Member
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    That's not me obviously........but quite a few people roll with something like this....

    848e7ad1582d46ee_1466323b06ba3aaa_147520663.preview.xxxlarge_1.jpg

    Personally, that's the way I roll....DLs take all that **** away....
  • Mrsbrooks33
    Mrsbrooks33 Posts: 6
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    I can relate to how you are feeling. I started going to fitness classes it helps you take your mind off things. You have less time to be in your head.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
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    I can relate, as my life is crazy sometimes. Really crazy!! What I go through in a year, most people probably don't go through in a lifetime.. Lol!!! But I tell myself this, it could always be worse! There's people that have lost children due to terrible illness and such, so I have no reason to sit here and feel sorry for myself! It really does help me. It kinda puts things in perspective.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
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    Exercise, lift weights, insight meditation or just breathing, yoga and other dynamic full body stretching and movement, dance, hugs and sex, reading, funny movie, being outdoors, going out to do something fun such as seeing a dance performance or spending time with a friend, hiking. Also massage.
  • Jersey_GirlSpins
    Jersey_GirlSpins Posts: 330 Member
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    Exercise is what helps me most. I'm going through one of the most stressful periods of my life. Once I started working out consistently, I started to feel a bit better.

    I'm not saying it will take away your stress, but it does help a lot! Also, surround yourself with people who love and care about you.
  • antonioaida
    antonioaida Posts: 9 Member
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    Working out helps me so much with stress. I like to call it "me" time. I am motivated by photos and inspirational stories of other people & their weight loss....& OMG TEA! I love tea of all kinds, good music, and church... :))
  • lisaanne1369
    lisaanne1369 Posts: 377 Member
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    running helps with my stress and depression.
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
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    Yes for me its running...Everyday im faced with stress..hell even the stress of keeping up with a new healthy eating habit..when the alternative is so much easier (albiet deadlier). But running takes me away from that, as well as lifting. especially if im pushing to the max..when i have to focus on getting through the routine/run correctly while hitting my goal. There are tons of suggestions to releive stress from yoga to excerciese to breathing and meditation. Youll have to find what works for you..The stress will likely stay but if you can find a way to escape it for a brief time...it will be more managable
  • victoria_1024
    victoria_1024 Posts: 915 Member
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    Exercise helps me as well! Not walks or things where I could spend too much time thinking, but more intense work-outs where all I'm thinking about is trying to get through it, lol. I was really stressed a few months ago, and all of those stressors are still in my life but since I started working out in January I realize that I don't *feel* the stress like I did before.
  • zivasak
    zivasak Posts: 88
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    I tend to embrace moments like that. I don't force it if I am tired and being lazy, I just stay home watching a couple of movies and doing some reading. Most of the time I just do nothing. And then just naturally I get back on track. When I am stressed, I am doing zillion things and feel overwhelmed even though most of the activity is taking place in my head.

    I am an expat and here there are a lot of stray dogs. And most of the time they are just chilling on the side of the street and sleeping. My hubby pointed to the facts that dogs don't run about 24 hour 7 but lay still most of the day. My point is take it from the dogs or the mighty lion: do nothing, relax!

    You will get back to your routine eventually, that is how nature works!
  • kdillson70
    kdillson70 Posts: 63
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    Rather than running yourself into the ground, take a run outside or on the treadmill. Exercise is the best anti-depressant and stress reliever! Good Luck!
  • Naturechik
    Naturechik Posts: 5
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    For me hiking in our county forest everyday has done wonders for my mental health. I find just getting away from the hustle of community living, bringing it right back to the basics, just me and nature.. is tremendously relaxing. I don't even think; I just be. I did read recently that they did a study that found listening to the sounds of nature daily for two hours reduced stress by 80%. So if the real thing isn't nearby, perhaps invest in a meditation tape?
  • billhilly1968
    billhilly1968 Posts: 75 Member
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    Hello! Stress causes your cortisol levels to go up and that causes weight gain. Walking outdoors is great if you do not have allergies but if you do the medicine can cause you to be sluggish and sleepy. Nothing is worse than wanting to do something when your body is dragging. Maybe you can find a gym or recreation center that you can walk in during peak allergy season. I do recommend that you keep walking and push yourself to break through this phase. Set a goal for a lap or short distance then once that goal has been met make a new one. This challenges you while encourages you during your exercising. Whatever you have to do to get it done. It is almost a mind game. You can do this! I usually eat a protein snack right before I exercise to give me extra boost. Good luck. Happy exercising!
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
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    Running works best for me but with your respiratory issues maybe try yoga or weights, they are my third and fourth go tos for stress. My second is spending time at the barn either working or goofing off with my horse. There are a lot of apps that can help you run if you're just getting started like C25K, that's how I started. Find an exercise where you have to concentrate on form and breathing so you can't think about what's going on in your life. Zumba is also a lot of fun and you can do it in your home with some dvd's.

    Also, see a dietician if you can to discuss foods that can help or hurt with the body's stress responses. You may need to tweak you diet until you get your stress under control, I did at one time.

    I assume you are seeing a respiratory specialist to help with your allergies.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,741 Member
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    I am learning to say no to things I don't HAVE TO do or say yes to. This helps a lot.

    I can't say enough in favor of self-nurturing behaviors like hot baths, meditation, short nap, deep breathing, sex, reading a good book, hot cup of tea, DIY beauty treatments, etc. This used to include comfort eating of course...but I have mostly broken that habit, finally after years of acknowledging and trying to avoid it.

    For me exercise doesn't help much with stress though. I have anxiety (GAD) and I know it helps many people like me, but it just winds me up and makes me very hyper and sends my thoughts (including worries) into overdrive!! I only seem to benefit from exercise once I've eliminated the worst of my stress through other methods.

    I think it's a matter of figuring out what works best for YOU. I wish you the best!!!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
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    Oh yeah, I also agree about relaxing while drinking hot tea.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
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    Yoga, meditation, a really wicked intense workout at the gym. I tell my son all the time when he's losing his mind "lets go sweat it out".

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