O.K. I've noticed when I'm not stressed and I am happy I start to lose weight without much effort. In fact I usually don't even think about it until someone asks if I've been losing weight and my clothing is alot looser. The last time I started losing weight was when I worked at a daycare. I lost 15 lbs after a few months but then they closed the daycare down and once again I'm a stay at home mom and the pounds krept back on. I am 5' 6" and I'm a lil embarrassed to say this but I weigh 203 lbs. I admit that I do eat junk food alot and I eat when I'm stressed. In high school when I got out of my depression stage and started getting alot of friends I lost 50 lbs. I weighed around 160 and got down to 110 and I felt great. I'm not a teen-ager anymore and after two c-sections I'm not expecting to look that great but I want to take better care of myself. I'd be happy to be 160 again. If I actually try to on my own it seems like I just gain weight but if I just somehow find a way to destress than it comes off with ease.

I just said something to the same effect to DH last night. I told him that I'm not going to stress about my weight anymore...I've beent he same weight for 6 years...haven't gone up and I haven't gone down. I've had blood work done several times, work out like crazy, eat all the right foods...and I still stay the same weight. So I've decided that I'm not going toothink about it anymore. I'm going to exercise like I always do only because it has become a habit and part of my day...but I'm not going to stress about every little thing I put in my mouth. I have healthy food in the house so my options are limited...but I'm hoping that by relieving some stress in my life will make all the difference!!

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"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake!" - ANONYMOUS

Yes, I have found that losing or maintaining my weight is much easier when I am happy and more importantly when I am busy! Staying busy keeps me from sitting around the house and snacking.

I have been singing the praises of Bob Greene for over a year now to you ladies, but I will plug him one more time. I love his style. It has helped me so much. I use his journal to write down what I eat and how much exercise I get and it really keeps me on track (they sell them in the book section at Target for $12 and one lasts 12 weeks). When I started writing it down, I realized that even though I was eating very healthy foods I was eating TOO MUCH of them! So once I got that under control I started losing steadily.

The key to getting it off and keeping it off is to monitor your snacking habits. Chances are when you had the day care, you were too busy to munch on things here and there. Now that you are a full time SAHM, when it's quiet, it's so easy to snack on something. I find I do more snacking mid afternoon when my kids are in quiet time than I do any other time of the day...and part of the reason is BOREDOM. (meaning not running here there and everywhere)

If you can, try also doing more things outside and away from the snacks and food. While outside you will find you're also more physical. Kick the ball, run with the kids, jump rope, etc. ENGAGE in play!

In answer to your thread question: I have learned the opposite to be true. When dh and I were first married, he moved overseas unaccompanied for a year. In that year I gained close to fifteen pounds. That is not like me. When I went to see a doc about it (Yes I was worried something was wrong), he told me I was "content" in my life and said that after just being married this can happen. So I joked with my dh about that when I called him and said "this is grounds for a divorce dear! I want my body back!!"

I am more happy and content in my life right now than I was a few years ago. I know part of that growth is spiritual and emotional, but another part of it is physical. I am not 100% happy with the way my body looks, however, I have accepted it...and try and work harder at it....but I do'nt think it's a reflection of how satisfied I am in my life.

Not really. I may be more aware of it, but I lost a lot of weight when I had a went through a depressing time in my early 20's. It started out not to be the healthiest way to do it, but then I started doing it healthy when I realized how much weight I was losing. I was able to keep it off, too, even after I "came out of my funk". Won't go into the details of my depression, but it was pretty big at the time!

It just depends, I think.

Yes I now realize that it depends on the person. Some people eat when stressed others don't. I am one that will eat when stressed. I don't eat a whole lot I just eat the wrong things. Plus I know that my body isn't working with me like it used to. What I mean is that my metabolism s*cks ! I really need to go to the doctor for a check up. It's been 7 years since the birth of my son but I have no insurance so I can't afford to right now. I've missed up to six months without having a period. This has been going on for some time now. I've read articles on pcos and it describes me. When I do lose a little weight my periods seem to start back up. I guess I'm just at a point where I want to stop stressing about it all and live my life and if I lose weight great but I'm not going to live my life counting every single calorie or fat gram. I do want to quit sodas, chocolate and chips. I'll do that when my boys start school. I need to find something to be a substitute for when I get totally stressed. Anyways for now I want to get projects to do to keep busy so I won't think about stressfull things (bills). I have alot I want to accomplish around the house such as decluttering and decorating.

well, I think for me I eat less when satisfied with my life and lost weight or at least didn't gain. I am about the same weight as you but shorter. I stopped stressing about weight per my doctor. It was actually making it harder to lose weight. Because u focus so much in it. I try and focus on what and when I'm eating. that is more productive.
as far as eating I first switched to healtier choices of bad foods, like chips. I love chips! I switched over to baked and other subsitiutes. I wouldn't be able to live without chips.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

not at all. as a matter of fact, i am the total opposite. i tend to gain more weight when i am at a happier place in my life. when i lose weight, it's usually because i'm stressed out and/or sick.

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For me, it is the opposite. I gain weight when I am happy and satisfied. When I am nervous or unhappy about something is when I start loosing weight. I guess because I don't eat as much. Since I started dating my boyfriend, I put on about 5 lbs, it fluctuates 1-2 lbs. and I think it is because I eat on a more regular schedule and I am eating period.

When things are going well I find more motivation to take care of myself in general, and I don't feel such a need to binge. When I am stressed I just eat and eat. I really believe it is a sickness, like alcoholism or something. I have been like that since I was young. When I am feeling good, I definitely lose (or at least don't gain!) weight.