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Question
I have been yo-yo dieting for a few years now. Exercise seems to have the greatest effect on lowering my weight but when I get bored and it stops my weight goes up.
I have more problems with eating however. My biggest problem is stress and my need to use food to relieve it. I can go weeks eating well and then slip up seriously for a few days if things are going badly at work.
I had a summer a few years back when I had the time to exercise daily and had a very low stress job. My weight decreased considerably and I was in excellent shape. Unfortunately that lifestyle is no longer available to me.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Answer
Stuart,
You are not alone.  Many people eat for emotional reasons such as stress.  First of all my suggestion would be to keep up your exercise.  Exercise can have a big impact on stress reduction!!  Find exercise you enjoy and do it moderately so that it becomes something you can do long-term.  If you get bored with your exercise than change it up and find something different to do.  Exercise needs to be something you do for life and you need to stick with it.  
In addition to exercise you can try other ways to relieve stress such as yoga, meditation, or other alternative methods.  You just have to be aware of what you are doing.  Everytime you put something in your mouth you need to think to yourself WHY!  If it is because you are hungry and it is a normal meal time than fine!  If you are really stressed out that day and that is why you are putting something in your mouth than stop and think about what else you can do.  If you are stressed at work and you pop a candy bar in your mouth will that actually solve the real problem.  Probably NOT!  It will just stress you out more as you gain weight from doing that over and over.  If you are stressed than instead of popping something in your mouth go outside and take a 5 minute walk and calm yourself down or do guided imagery in your head to relax.  Food does not relax you physically but some of these other methods DO and so are much more helpful!
Weight loss and/or weight maintenance takes WORK!  You need to work at not eating for stress reasons and that takes THINKING about what you are doing when you eat.  Most of us eat without thinking about it and that is what gets us in trouble!!
If you are not sure when you are eating from stress keep a food diary for awhile and not only write down what you eat but how you are feeling when you are eating.
Hope that helps you out somewhat or at least helps you get started.
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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