Stress-Busting Strategies

By Heather Jones, R.D., Best Life nutritionist

A bad day at work, a big deadline, a sick child or parent, a broken down car—stress is simply a part of everyday life. But if you're not careful, it can cause you to pack on a lot of extra pounds. (Check out Stress Less, Weigh Less? for more details on the effect of stress on weight loss and your health.) So, how can you stop stress—and the resulting weight loss—in its tracks? Try these tricks from TheBestLife.com members who have been able to break their stress-eating habit and shed pounds.

Face the Music

"I try to face the stress in my life rather than ignoring it. If something is causing me stress, I acknowledge what is going on, figure out if there is something I can do about it, and if there is, I try to take action. If there isn't anything I can change, I simply acknowledge that and be mindful that if I turn to food, it will only cause me more stress," says Patti G., 48, who has lost 47 pounds on The Best Life program.

Turn to a Higher Power

"Having strong faith definitely makes a difference because I know that I'm never truly alone, even if it feels that way sometimes. Taking regular time to read my Bible and journal my prayers really does make a difference in reducing my stress," says Stephanie R., 47, down 55 pounds.

Get Moving

"Exercise has always helped me get rid of stress. Jogging and weight lifting, in particular, help to make it all go away," says Meghan Z., 35, who is 60 pounds thinner since joining TheBestLife.com.

Check Your Hunger

"If I found myself wandering the kitchen, antsy and anxious, looking for something to eat, I would ask myself where I was on the hunger scale. (Need a refresher? Check out Mastering the Hunger Scale.) If I wasn't at a level that called for food, then I would look around for something else to do. Eventually, I found that my mental wiring began to change. So now when I get anxious, instead of wanting food, I usually want to go for a walk," says Stephanie R.

Find a Healthy Distraction

"When I get stressed out, I like to go shopping. Listening to music while I'm doing housework will also calm me down," says Denise J., 48, who has shed 46 pounds.

"Sometimes when I feel stressed and I'm able to go for a brisk walk, it changes the energy in a very short time. Initially it helps me blow off steam, but then I'm also able to refocus my attention on something I enjoy, like reading, drawing or painting," Elisabeth G., 61, down 45 pounds with the help of TheBestLife.com.

Strike a Balance

"I work hard at establishing balance between my work and personal life. I make sure to respect my workout periods, for example. At the end of the day, it helps to know that you have done something for yourself and that you stuck to it no matter what,” says  Natalie R., 37, who has lost 33 pounds since joining TheBestLife.com.

Take Time for You

"I always start my day with 10 minutes of meditation. I clear my mind and focus on my breathing. If I'm relaxed, calm and peaceful at the very beginning of my day, then I can successfully handle all kinds of stressful events that might occur throughout the day. I try to see everything in a positive light and I realize that I can learn something valuable, even from negative experiences," says Karen B., 61, down 39 pounds.