Stress and Weight Loss

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     My 92 year old mother was recently hospitalized for the second time in a month and is still in the hospital (as of September 28).  Other than a burst appendix long ago, for most of her life she was very healthy.  Every day, I’ve been driving over an hour each way to the hospital. I've been too tired to regularly exercise and have been spending long hours sitting with my mother. And yes – I have also sometimes found myself eating random foods, instead of sitting and feeling my emotions of sadness and worry. 

     I'm not perfect - and you also don’t have to be perfect - to lose weight and to maintain that weight loss. There will be times when due to fatigue, stress, boredom, or other emotions, you will make choices that will not help you to reach your weight loss goals.  However, when you are able to examine your thoughts and be aware of your emotions, then you will behave differently than you have in the past.  One or two episodes of overeating will not trigger you to then continue to overeat. Several episodes of making poor choices will not have a major effect on your weight loss, because you will easily be able to get back on track.

     When I overeat due to stress, or fatigue, or both, I am almost always able to quickly return to my daily habits of planning my meals, following my food plans, drinking my water, and trying to get enough sleep.  I mostly eat when I'm hungry and stop eating before I'm stuffed.  I also journal daily where I write down the thoughts that are bothering me and then examine those thoughts to try to find healthy ways of thinking about those thoughts. I also utilize coaching when I’m having difficulties in dealing with my thoughts or feelings.    

     Dealing with elderly parents is difficult at best, and can be very stressful and saddening.  However, the skills that I’ve learned through coaching, and that I teach my clients, enable us to navigate life’s ups and downs without eating our feelings or derailing our goals.  When I’m willing to feel my sadness and worry, I’m less likely to eat as a way of dealing with those emotions.  Those emotions are part of life – and my life is fuller when I experience all of the positive – and negative – emotions. 

      My coaching clients learn how to handle their emotions without eating and how to safely experience any emotions.  You, too, can learn these skills and your life will become more joyful when your emotional eating significantly decreases.  Schedule a call with me – there’s no pressure or obligation – and find out if coaching is the missing piece you need to succeed on your weight loss journey.  You can schedule a call with me at: 

https://calendly.com/coachbarbarakatz/60min 

I can’t wait to speak with you! 

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