I'm on the last leg of this LONG month of travel. Only three more days and I get to stay home! Yipee!

Speaking of overscheduled and overstressed, we know it can lead us to over eat. Write down three things that lead you to overeat. Be as specific as you possibly can. Write out at least one example of each. Breaking down the problem will help you solve it.

For instance - I over eat when I'm stressed out is vague. I overeat when my husband comes home late is more specific.

Next, write down ways you can tame this behavior. The goal is to deal with stress as your ideal self would. That said, baby step yourself toward behavior that will serve you better. Go at your own pace!

Doing something that makes you feel GOOD is key here. It will help you build your self confidence. Staying in control feels really good, doesn't it It's not always so easy to achieve but it's achievable! You can do this!!!

Example: When my husband comes home late I can:

Pack up the kids, get in my car and go for a scenic drive.
Blow bubbles outside. Get one of those giant bubble blowers. They're really fun!
Plan tomorrow's healthy meal and do some of the prep.
Read a new magazine cover to cover.
Call a friend.
Hop on my dusty old bike

I tend to overeat when emotionally there is controversy surrounding me. I don't deal well with arguments and disdain. So I grab the first things that are closets to me and chow down.

Solution: Learn not to take everything that is said personally, plan to have things on hand during those times that are healthy to eat, and remove myself from the situation. It is usually NOT my problem, but someone else' and why should I let their attitude mess up my day?

#2 I will overeat, when I think I have done a fine job and need to be rewarded for it. If I loose three pounds (whatever the number) I think, "I worked hard for that, gave up a lot, a need a reward" and it is usually those things that I bypassed to get my goal.

Solution: Start planning a reward for those times. IE this week, I really want a new pair of nylon pants that fit properly. Not baggy ones like I am wearing now... so IF I exercise everyday and follow my food plan within 3 points everyday, I will buy myself those new pants. No more food rewards, it only defeats the purpose.

#3 This isn't overeating, but it is a problem for me. When I am alone, my family is gone (out of town) I don't eat....just as bad as over eating.

Solution: Plan on having at least dinner or breakfast with a friend while they are out of town. That way I get one meal in . Fix myself some easy "pre-packaged" meals that I can put in the mic for while they are gone. Make sure that I stock up on foods that are quick and easy so I have no excuses for not eating.

Great idea KD....enjoy being home. There is NOTHING like sleeping in your own bed to warm your heart.

I overeat when:

1. I dont portion control my snacks. Especially in front of the computer.
2. when I have nothing in my hands at night watching t.v.

Solutions:
1. dont grab a bag of pretzels or popcorn and think I can just eat one cup....pour it into a bowl first and put the rest away.

2.I took up painting a set of new plates for my kitchen and when I am sitting doing nothing and feel the urge to mindless munch I will reach for the paints instead. Cant do both at the same time.

Wow - PERFECT TIMING!!!

I get stressed when:

1) My workload is overwhelming as we always seem to be in a crisis at work.

2) Things are not going the way "I" want them to in "MY" timeframe.

3) I look at how much debt I have from poor choices in my past, and do not have any clue how I am going to get out of.

4) I start realizing how overweight I really am and how long it will take to lose it.

5) My husband keep disagreeing over issues that are already in the past and dealt with, or at least I feel I have moved past them.

Solutions:

1) I take a break and get away during lunch, Usually this involves taking a drive to Lake Michigan. I refuse to come in both days over the weekend - I need ME time.

2) I have to walk away and take a step back to look at whether I am being unreasonable or is this an issue that will take some time to work out.

3) I don't always have a stress relief solution for this. I usually just block it out and do what I can today.

4) Look at how hard I am still trying and set a small goal like doing my nails for reaching it.

5) I try to explain that going over whichever topic he is discussing is repeating the same thing. I explain that if he has something new to add I will sit and listen but for now I still feel ____ way and I am not going to change. Sometimes I take a drive away, or find some space for me.

Beth

My top three:
1. Missing Colin around anniversary dates and holidays.

Fix - jounral, write Colin letters, be more active with my bereaved moms support group.

2. Being overscheduled with not enough down time/me time.

Fix - Like Laura, I just need to do a better job of saying "no". I also need to learn that the laundry can wait a few hours while I put my feet up and relax.

3. Buffet type meals. I'm TERRIBLE at buffets where grazing is the "norm".

Fix - Continue to work on eating ahead of time so I don't arrive starving. Drink water, water, water and follow the three healthy bites for 1 sinful bite rule. (I'll have to put this into practice this weekend in Philly which will be filled with pastries, cake, and all types of figure unfriendly food).

three things that lead me to eat,

being home alone and bored in the evening

stressing at work usally leads to trips to the mall food court

If dh and I have an afternoon off together I usually go way overboard making lunch

things to help solve that:

spend my evenings working on the scrapbook for my dad. I know I won't eat around all of those old photos.

I'm hopefully working out a big portion of my stress today, but I also need to restock my locker with mini kit meals.

When I have an afternoon off with dh, I'll do what i did yesterday. Pack a light picnic lunch and we can go to the lake watch the boats, then go for a walk.

Laurie

Dealing with my ex-bf at all is likely to make me overeat (or feel sick). Hopefully, after this week, he should no longer be a problem, I'll never have to deal with him again!
(Trying to get my oomph up to drive down there is another story)

Feeling tired (usually from the endo/my period) leads me to eat. I tend towards eating to "cure" tiredness. I know that doesn't work, but I find myself doing it anyway.

Watching too much tv/fiddling on the 'net' also encourages bad eating for me. I get hungry and then snack on dried fruit or something instead of sitting down and having an actual meal.

Catherine

Things that overstress Laura and lead to stress eating:

1. Too many problems to work on at one time
2. Not enough me time (causes intense itching for comfort foods)
3. Overscheduling my time in general

Ways to fix these problems:

1. Take a page from hubby's book: focus on one problem at a time, from most pressing to least pressing. Apparently, men think in "boxes" and can only handle one thing at a time. (Can a woman--a born multitasker--even do that ?!? )

2. Stick to getting to Cedar Point once a week for some quality time with my babies. At least I can run away from all aspects of my life for a short time and refocus my perspective. Then I can probably attempt to tackle #1.

3. Learn to say "No" to things that don't interest me or require a major shift in more than a couple hours of my life. If I have to shuffle my life around, it's probably not something I should be doing right now. Then I need to keep reminding myself that I cannot do everything for everybody else because I only have so many hours in a day.

Hopefully I can start with number 3 so that I have time for number 2 which will then allow me to focus on number 1. (I'm starting to think that maybe I should renumber them in the reverse order...nah, that requires going back to number 2 to do number 1 which will force me into number 3 and then start over... and )

Laura