Poll, what do you think

All the boards that I frequent, have been talking a lot about stress and it's effect on weight loss.  Some think it is a big factor, others think it is just an excuse to blame something or someone else for their not loseing or even gaining weight.  What do you think?  I think stress plays a big part in loseing and gaining weight. 

In my opinion stress matters.  I am a stress eater.  I am trying to change that, especially now that I am banded.  I am looking into the things that stress me, how I can deal with that stress, and other outlets besides eating.  Example...yesterday I was so stressed and about ready to cry.  All I wanted to do was come home and eat a gallon of chocolate ice cream after a whole Godfather's combo pizza for dinner.  Of course I knew I could do that (and didn't).  I haven't figured out other ways to relive that stress that work for me yet but I can tell you that my jaw was and still kind of is clenched and my teeth griding together.  My teeth are already bad enough so I need to find what works for me QUICK!  I don't want to use stress as an excuse for my weight issues but I knew I have used food as an outlet in the past.

Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. Do as I say & not as I do  :)

Of course it does if you let it. The wording here is..If you let it. I  have my share of stress. But since I risk my life for this surgery I refuse to give in & let it ALL be for nothing. I look for other things to do besides eat.

I agree with that but since I am still very new at this it is still hard for me not to eat my stress away like I used to.  I haven't let it get to me but I hope it does get easier.

Read your leader handout I gave you on "Emotional Eating".

There is no Omaha support group from this site.  My surgeon/nut didn't talk about emotional eating either.

Jill, the problem is there is a really big difference in emotional eating and stress.  Stress can mess up your entires system.  It can raise your blood pressure into stroke range, it can send your blood sugar sky high, it can cause migranes, it can mess up your motabolism, it can kill you.  I am talking true stress.

My thoughts on this topic. Stress causes illness and illness causes stress. We all have experienced different kinds of stress in our lives before surgery. Sometimes relationships, ability to participate in activities, shame/self-esteem because of obesity,discrimination of types at work, social, etc. Then we go through surgery often with the thoughts that once we have surgery and lose weight, life will be better. It definitely is better, however we may encounter new stressors in relationships, work, health issues, financial and then the usual sources that come with daily living and life. I have always used solutions outside of myself to deal with stress. That was partying, eating, spending money, and isolating. I have learned that just because I had weight loss surgery those ways of lifelong coping skills don't go away. We have life long patterns that slowly have to be addressed one at a time in order to bring about healthier new behaviors. Many of us grew up in homes with family systems where certain coping skills were developed at early ages. Most were not effective in the long term. I believe support groups where this is discussed and your friends share solutions is helpful. I also think that seeing a counselor is beneficial in helping us to identify some of the behaviors that we need to focus on and change to work for us not against us. We are all human and we all have stress in our lives. I say progress not perfection every day. If I can do one thing differently to head down a healthier path, I focus on that. I am not always successful, but I ask for willingness to try. I have done some research on this in my own recovery after WLS. I believe that  Mind and Body are inseparable. Our state of mind (emotional health) directly influences our physical health which is our life after weight loss surgery. If we are depressed, anxious, angry, overwhelmed we are certainly going to struggle with staying on our prescribed eating plan, exercising, talking to others and going to support groups. Again, I have to try and take action and try new behaviors that are not my first instinct and much more difficult to act on. The old ways of coping are what I know best! If I keep trying and not beat myself up when I am not successful, someday I may have developed a toolkit to deal with stress in my life better/healthier level. AA says, "Get out of the problem and into the solution." The solutions are all around us, we just need to be willing to seek them out and act differently. We can't do it alone. My opinion since surgery is that this is my daily challenge. The lap-band was easy, the lifestyle changes are much harder for me. This is my opinion only. We all come from different backgrounds and are in different stages of adjustment after surgery. This is how it works for me. I appreciate the opportunity to share. Take care and best of luck in 2008! Shelly from Lincoln

Hazel, I think stress can definitely play a factor in one's weight loss/gain. However, I think sometimes people do use it as an excuse. There's a difference. Before I had WLS, I was one of those cop-out/excuse people..."Oh, I don't have time to exercise. I'm so busy. I didn't eat much yesterday, so the extra today is okay. It's only a milkshake. My job is so taxing that I don't have the energy to work out. I've always been heavy, my whole family is."  Since WLS, my life is still hectic, my job is still stressful & my family is still heavy, but I make myself do the right things. I'm not saying everyday is perfect, but I sure try to stay on track. I think an important thing to remember is that although we are a like, we are not the same. Hope what I had to say answered your question.