Weight Loss Support Give and get support here!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 10-22-2012, 05:48 PM   #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mottainai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 401

S/C/G: 138/136/110s

Default Ways to comfort/relax other than food

What do you guys do to help soothe yourself during a stressful time instead of using food?

I have an exam coming up that I REALLY need to study for, and I'm planning on spending a few hours at school a couple days each studying. But I am so NOT a studier usually, and it's really making me anxious. This is something I would normally use binge eating to get me through easily-- eat myself into a stupor until I'm happy and can't really move and don't mind studying for a while, then repeat and repeat-- but I really don't want to do that this time!

So, I'd love to hear any ideas for something I can do while I'm studying, or between study sessions, to make myself happy and relaxed a bit.
mottainai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 05:51 PM   #2  
Back with a story
 
Arctic Mama's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Midwest
Posts: 3,754

S/C/G: 281 / 254 / 160

Height: 5'3" - I got taller!

Default

I knit and play piano when I need a break, or read a book that I enjoy.
Arctic Mama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 05:54 PM   #3  
Senior Member
 
Skellig19's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 248

S/C/G: 350/296/125

Height: 177cm

Default

My 2 mood boosters that get me happy and relaxed are tea and exercise (not together, obviously...too difficult). I can polish off a pot of tea like nobody's business and I use Splenda to sweeten it if I need it sweetened. It's warm and soothing and makes me relaxed. The very ritual of making tea (for me) elevates it past a simple cup and more of an event. I love it! Green and Black tea have the most caffeine so if that's an issue for you, try herbal, rooibos, oolong, or white. Oolong is FABULOUS for digestion and though I'm not a fan of the taste, makes me feel physically very "zen".

Exercise is big too. Get that heart pumping and your lungs working, even if only for 15 minutes between subjects. It'll boost your mood AND your metabolism!

Good for you for looking for alternatives to snacking during revision! I have the same problem.
Skellig19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 06:41 PM   #4  
Happy Member
 
JoJoJo2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Casper, Wyoming, USA
Posts: 789

Default

Chew gum instead of snacking while studying.
JoJoJo2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 07:18 PM   #5  
Stephanie
 
LockItUp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,221

S/C/G: 236/135-140/More Fit

Height: 5'6"

Default

I take a nightly bath and read. If it's during the day I usually will drink some diet soda -- I enjoy it and while it may not be a healthy ideal, it's better than binging. I used to smoke and that's what I'd do instead of eat, but obviously that's a terrible thing to do. So I figure diet soda is the lesser of the evils.
LockItUp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 07:20 PM   #6  
Angela
 
masterptr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 386

S/C/G: 155/138/126

Height: 5'6"

Default

I workout really really hard to a point I am about to pass out.
shower, watch your favorite program and fall a sleep, take a nap.
when you wake up, you are not hungry.
masterptr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 07:21 PM   #7  
Back to Basics!
 
ChickieChicks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,036

S/C/G: 187/127/125

Height: 5' 2.5"

Default

I love to read! I make huge cups of hot tea o sip while I am reading.
ChickieChicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 07:49 PM   #8  
Senior Member
 
angelskeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Cody, Wyoming
Posts: 982

S/C/G: 243/190/150

Height: 5'4"

Default

When I first started out, I made a "deal" with myself that every time I felt stressed out, I would walk around the block. I had such a struggle at first even walking that far...OMG...it was AWFUL back then to try and get moving. Eventually I got better at walking and have found that (usually!) the regular walking has become super helpful/important to my mental health. I do my walking outside as much as possible, unless it is super cold and super windy. I also do the WATP video I bought a couple of years ago because it's really handy if I just want to do some quick exercise and can't go out for a walk. I have PTSD and need all the help I can get for the way I handle stressful situations.

Sometimes I just need to escape, too, and then I will usually read a book. There are so many different kinds of stories to read that I can easily get lost for a few hours and then come back to the stressful situation with a fresh perspective.

LOL! Instead of comfort food, I now have comfort walks ;-)

Barb
angelskeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 08:38 PM   #9  
Senior Member
 
serendipity907's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 353

S/C/G: 145/160/120

Height: 5'6

Default

I have started taking baths in the evening (Tends to be when I'll comfort eat etc) and also I've been reading books lately. I'm not a fan of kindles so I allow myself a new book every so often, I'm currently learning about Richard the Third I'm quite interested in history and since they may have found his grave site I wanted to know more about him.

Anyway as I said I'm a evening comfort eater and both these things distract me, make me feel happy and also make me sleep better so it's working pretty well.

It's slightly off topic but my downfall is sugar, my sweet tooth is out of control and I do often wonder if I'm actually insulin resistant or something... But for now at least every time I'm realllly craving sweets I will let myself eat some kind of tasty savory item. Could be anything from a favorite cheese to a little piece of pie-I'm just trying to ween myself off sugar as it doesn't even make me feel good to have it!
serendipity907 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 09:59 PM   #10  
Heading Downtown...
 
TripSwitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 1,394

S/C/G: 225/165/165

Height: 5'8"

Default

My all time favorite thing to do for me that I find incredibly relaxing is to take a sauna... I also really like a steam shower too...

When I was cramming for exams in college I would break things up by just going for a walk around campus to clear my head and get some fresh air and when I was somewhere that no one could see me (because I thougt I looked foolish) I would do jumping jacks to get the blood flowing after sitting for so long... Also if it worked for my schedule I would hit the pool on campus and swim some laps and than the whirlpool which was awesome...

Good luck...

Last edited by TripSwitch; 10-22-2012 at 10:05 PM.
TripSwitch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 10:01 PM   #11  
Senior Member
 
linJber's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NW PA
Posts: 1,609

S/C/G: 255/holding at 162/160

Height: 5'-7"

Default

Knit. Bubble bath. Not at the same time.

Lin
linJber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 10:09 PM   #12  
One pound at a time
 
Beck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 655

S/C/G: 292.2/138.6/146

Height: 5'9"

Default

I'm another tea-drinker. I use stevia to sweeten my tea, and my favorites are chai teas (Celestial Seasonings Indian Spice Chai and Sweet Coconut Thai are two really tasty ones). There's something so calming about having a warm mug in your hand and slowly sipping a cup of tea.

Good luck on your upcoming exam!
Beck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 10:22 PM   #13  
Senior Member
 
Mer du Japon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 254

S/C/G: 191/149/135

Height: 5'8

Default

Shopping, hot bath, working out, watching a movie, cleaning, reading a magazine, surfing the net, reading are my ways of relaxing
Mer du Japon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 10:36 PM   #14  
Back with a story
 
Arctic Mama's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Midwest
Posts: 3,754

S/C/G: 281 / 254 / 160

Height: 5'3" - I got taller!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by linJber View Post
Knit. Bubble bath. Not at the same time.

Lin
Haha! It's a surefire way to felt whatever you're working with, though
Arctic Mama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2012, 10:37 PM   #15  
Cool Chick
 
heathermichigan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 199

S/C/G: 283/227.2/180

Height: 5' 10"

Default

Diet hot chocolate, read, bath. And you can do them all at once!
heathermichigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Related Topics
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Supporting Each Other on Our Weight Loss Journey derrydaughter Weight Watchers 186 06-08-2007 09:14 PM
300+ and Ready to Try Again.... #549 2cute2Bfat 300+ Club 31 07-24-2004 11:22 PM
LWL #105 - week of 2 June 2003 MrsJim Weight and Resistance Training 102 06-08-2003 10:22 PM
Sugar Busters Weekly Support Board 6/3-6/9 Debelli Sugar Shakers 164 06-10-2002 06:13 AM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:17 PM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.