How do you beat stress to achieve weight loss?

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

I was having a discussion with girl friends over the weekend. How do you beat stress to loose weight? I think even with the band this can be hard. What do you all suggest?

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

BBK - this is a tough one for me. I even went to the doctor this past week because I was having a little breakdown. It seems I need a new stress outlet. It used to be food, being banded I can't turn to that as easily as I could. Binge eating is gone. Now what?

I'm trying exercise. I'll be honest, I don't love doing it but I absolutely love how I feel afterwards. The sauna at the gym helps me unwind too. When I misss exercising I can tell I am more stressed and I tend to turn to slider foods - my old archenemy. Doc even suggested I find a healthy hobby. I've got the physical down, now I'm working on the mental. One day at a time.

[Willowglen 5]

There is a small lake near where I live, it has a paved walking path all the way around. One time around is about 3 miles and really relaxes me being outside and enjoying nature.

[Jodi_620 37]

Exercise, especially walking really helps me with stress.

I was also getting very moody, like contant PMS. I started taking supplements that were recommended to me by my doctor about three weeks ago and they have been working wonderfully. (the supplement is SAM-E, a little pricy but worth it to me!-they were $40 for 60 tablets at CVS)

[tapshoes 2]

Great question - things which at different times have had varying degrees of success for me include:

reading a book

cross-stitch or knitting (this either helps me, or makes it worse depending on the day)

having a nap (not a good strategy at work)

baking - as I don't have a sweet tooth, baking to me can be very therapeutic yet not in the least tempting

housework - I enjoy cleaning, and can really get into organizing a cupboard, or cleaning the spice drawer or washing a wall

Notice how exercise was NOT one of the choices???

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Thank GOD I don't have this issue! I think it would be incredibly tough. I'm a reward eater but if I'm stressed the last thing I want to do is eat; I get vaguely nauseated. It's easy to find other things to reward myself with, things that aren't necessarily expensive (but hey, a new purse or CD is always welcome LOL) but stress? That's a hard one! Good luck! :smile2:

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

housework - I enjoy cleaning, and can really get into organizing a cupboard, or cleaning the spice drawer or washing a wall

OMG why don't you just tar and feather me! LOL...wanna come to my house?

[aubrie 6]

Exercise. Sex and relaxation. My surgeon told me that for many the only way to beat this is to balance body, mind and soul. He recommended a spiritual outlet. He wanted to make sure that even if I didn't attend church regularly, that I was feeding my soul spiritually. I thought that was awesome!!! I now attend spiritual retreats on the weekends and read a lot of books for the spiritual food. It really does help.

[Sue Magoo 71]

Brandy:

There are a few stress relievers that I can think of.

First, I found trikking. It's an exercise that's so much fun that I forget I'm exercising. Check it out on www.trikke.com.

Second, a long hot shower feels great. Let the Water beat the bad vibes out of you.

Third, how about a soaking in a tub with a good book? I highly recommend the Janet Evanovich series. First book titled "One for the money". The characters are great. Now up to book #14 and they all feel like family - LOL.

Fourth, walking with upbeat music on. Has to be upbeat because anything bluesey or sad brings me down.

Fifth - lap band talk. Check out some of the success stories, just like yours!

Hope these ideas help someone.

Take care.

Sue

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

We're built for "stress"....it's prolonged unrelieved stress that becomes "distress" that affects many of us.

There are a host of ACTIVITIES that relieve 'distress'.

"Existential anxiety" is another form of stress. The 'what-if' scenarios we invent, which have no basis in reality.

Kant IIRC, labeled "hypothetical imperatives' those issues which are NOT real, yet we react AS IF they were.

First identified in about 1915 (per Fight-or-flight response - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) our bodies react to the 'fight or flight' scenario elaborated in the 50s by a Hans Selye AS IF we were confronted by a hungry carnivore in the woods...and our body/mental facilities are thrust into high gear with physiological responses to the stressor mechanism, whether real or imagined.

That thin membrane separating 'reality' from 'imagination' is another threshold that is ignored/overlooked/unrecognized by many, just as the important difference between 'hunger/NOT hunger' is not perceived by we Morbidly Obese.

Habit and training also affect what our rational mind can do to guide our energy to more productive ACTIVITIES than stressing over inconsequential or non-existent factors.

Personally, I find aerobic gardening or chopping firewood soothes my own beasts tremendously.

Jack, just what is aerobic gardening? How do you do that?

And you wanna help me with a paper Mr. Philosophy? :biggrin: I have to write on Sen and it is not going well, just one part of my stress.

[Jachut 487]

Running really helps me. For me, I need action, movement. Things like a long bath are nice to do and relieve tired type stress but arent really effective for the I cant cope with my life stress.

The type of stress I usually face is the I've got 100 things to do in 1 hour type stress, my life can get utterly ridiculous at times between a family, a job and full time study and I often find situations arise where I have to be in four places at one time. DH gets cross at me and simply doesnt understand how I can walk away from a bomb site of a house and go running instead of cleaning up. The mess and disorganisation we live with as a result of lack of time causes me stress as well, but I cope with it ALL better as a result of being fitter, centred and having some me time.

So no matter what, I endeavour to keep to my exercise schedule.

Nonetheless I have periods of weeks (like now) when I simply CANNOT afford the time to spend on an hour's run most days, this week I have handed in five assessment pieces at uni, and have two more to go by Saturday. I just have to do them. But I've still got out once or twice.

Emotional stress, everyday stress, anger, etc a good run clears that out for me and music is an important part of it for me too. My music choices may be a bit daggy and old time, lol, but to go for a run listening to something you find uplifting is a really good experience.

Of paramount importance for me though is avoiding it in the first place. I'm a pretty disorganised person, when I really make an effort not to be stress levels are much less.

Edited October 15, 2008 by Jachut

[tapshoes 2]

OMG why don't you just tar and feather me! LOL...wanna come to my house?

I have often thought that when/if I retire (damned economic turn and fallout), I'd open a cleaning service. There are very few things as psychologically satisfying to me as cleaning a room from top to bottom (literally, washing ceilings, walls and floors). If only I could be paid equal to what I make now, I'd do it in a heartbeat....university education was good for the mind, but cleaning is good for the soul!

[hnladue 7]

Find a good place to hide the bodies..........