(Thought I'd try and initiate a lively discussion - the boards seem pretty slow lately. )

I've been trying to be more aware of when I am stressed and how I react to it. One of the ways is by getting lazy with my eating habits. Instead of taking the time to make a nice LC meal and/or salad, I'd much rather just grab a corndog at the local c-store. Not so healthy.

Usually my stress involves lack of time, but I also have 2 small children (ages 4 1/2 & 18 months) and my DH works graveyard, so he's not always available to help with the kids, depending on how well he's slept that day. So you can add those things to my varying stress level. And to top it all off, we're probably going to be moving in the very near future, but are waiting for final approval of the position my DH will be filling. Meanwhile, we're stuck in limbo, waiting for the gov't to process the paperwork.

Because of all these things, I've had a really hard time staying committed to eating healthfully. Thankfully, the weather here has warmed up some, so I've been able to get outside for walks with the kids, I'm trying not to overcommit, and have been slowly eliminating those "extra" things that cause me stress. Still, there are those days where I'm just plain pooped and don't feel like going through all the effort of cooking.

After re-reading this, I sound really lazy about cooking, but truly that's not the case. I love to cook, and it's usually that end-of-the-day slump that causes me to start wishing for a personal chef.

So... I'm just curious - how do you handle stress in your life?

And I know many of you are as busy or busier than I am, so how do you keep focused and maintain the motivation and energy to cook dinner at the end of a long, busy day?

__________________
Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

What a good question, Mada. Sometimes I get home at lunch, or at the end of the work day, and I just don't know what to fix, unless I've planned ahead of time. But I don't have little ones to cook for, just a not-too-picky husband (thank goodness!)

If I don't feel like cooking, then sometimes we just have snacks, like good quality lunch meats, or pepperoni, and cheese, and raw veggies. Or I'll just put some broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans (frozen) or zucchini or yellow squash in my steamer with some frozen cooked diced chicken meat, or smoked sausage, and just steam it all for a quick meal, just adding a sprinkle of parmesan on top. Or we'll make chicken salad, or tuna salad, or salmon salad, and eat it with pork rinds. For kids, just make sure they're getting some sort of protein, and a veggie. Kids that age don't eat a lot, and are probably happy snacking anyway.

Just never feel guilty about not cooking a regular meal every evening. It's being together with your family that's important, not the cooking. As long as you're not serving junk food, you're doing ok.

Some evenings I come home and wish we had a maid. Sigh. Or that my husband could or would cook. Sigh. Oh well, wishing won't make it so!

__________________
Nita

When I DO have energy, I have a lot of it and tend to get a lot done. Cooking and freezing meals are a great idea. I dont have kids yet, but when i get home from work, i usually dont want to lift a finger! But i find that simple low carb meals arent that hard at all. If I'm tired, I just grab some meat, throw it in the oven and heat up some veggies (instant mashed potatoes or stuffing for the bf- a microwave and a bowl are all you need!). I dont even mess up a pan when i steam my veggies, i just microwave some water in a coffee cup, add veggies and let them sit and heat through while i'm doing something else. Or I'll grab some diced veggies and meat, throw it in a pan and stir. If i REALLY dont feel like anything, I'll get a loaded omelette from Denny's for six bucks.

Since i dont have kids, it's simple enough for me to destress, i just take a bath and go to sleep. When you find out how to de-stress, let me know, I might need some pointers for when my little ones come along (whenever that is).

Maybe you should install a one way mirror in your bathroom and bedroom. That way, you can keep an eye on the kiddies while you take a long hot bath or getting a minute to yourself.

__________________
Goal 1

When you find the magic answer...let me know!! lol

I am dealing with figuring it out right now. I am a single mother to a 2 year old with no family in the area to help and her father out of the picture. That alone is stressful, then throw in work and financial...and it seems I ALWAYS turn to food. Even if LC, too much of it at night once she's asleep.

__________________
LC Since January 04
Highest Weight: 340
Rededicated 1/1/07: 295/ /240

“Self-delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scales”

Hi

You need systems.

I use my adapted system of David Allen's "Getting Things Done".

__________________
DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

Alcmene - I'm going to have to check that out... I've never heard of it.
I consider myself pretty organized... it's just a lack of energy and motivation at the end of the day that is doing me in. I think another thing I need to do is get to bed sooner. That will require DH's participation (if he's slept poorly during the day he'll go back to bed before work and I usually just wait until he goes to work before going to bed myself... don't want to disturb him. I think I'm going to ask him to find another place to take his pre-work nap.) The extra sleep should help some.

Thanks for all the suggestions and if you have anything else to add - keep 'em coming!

__________________
Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

Ok, here's what I do.

I have a little moleskin that I carry EVERYWHERE, it even comes to bed with me at night. If I cannot sleep I will do a brain dump of everything I need to do the next day. I also use my moleskin for place dependent lists. For example, there are things that are work related and I can only do at work, likewise with home, library, out and about and so forth. I also colour code things, I have a fabulous pen which is a red pen, a black pen, a pencil and a PDA stylus in one and that accompanies my moleskin everywhere.

I am also a fan of mind mapping as it allows you to connect all the loose ends up.

Anything which is time specific, such as appointments, birthdays, concert tickets, nights out etc. etc. goes in my PDA. My PDA stays at work and is connected to my work computer which is on 24/7. This allows me to check my calender anytime via the Internet. If I am travelling or maybe not going to have online access then I just disconnect my PDA and use it as a standalone, and when I connect it back to my office computer I update my computer calender so everything is synched.

To get started you need to collect all your "stuff", then get rid of the "stuff" you don't need, and move on from there!

I seperate my "stuff" into different sections, depending on the action you wish to take.

Read as much as you can about the system, the book is good but there are loads of resources online. The system as it stands does not work for me, so I have simplified it, and I keep on evoloving to find something that is MINE.

The most important things to remember is that you have to do it, there is no point in having a system in place if you don't follow it through. YOu must alos REVIEW. I have weekly reviews every SUnday evening. Review the week, what you've done, what you haven't done, and how the system has worked for you.

__________________
DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

Wow! Thanks for the explanation!

I am in the process right now of organizing my "stuff" and eliminating some of it. So I guess I'm headed in the right direction.

__________________
Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

Yup. Keep as many things as organized as possible. For me, that eliminates a ton of "under the radar" stress factors.

... then a hot bath. Add music, candles and a glass of wine. 15-20 minutes of that generally "resets" my stress-o-meter.

__________________

Oh how I miss my roman tub....

I haven't had a decent bath in over 4 years. The only tub in our house is kind of small, so it doesn't do much for the relaxation factor (and I LOVE baths!)... but the wine - I can do that! (I did find out that I cannot drink wine while I'm knitting - had to pull out way too much afterward!) LOL!

__________________
Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

I love baths. However, I am a very "doing" kind of person, I find it difficult to lie in the bath if I know I have things to do. That is why having lists helps me, if I know it's on the list, I know I will get round ot it at a certain stage.

Normally I read something useful in the bath that I need to do for work.

__________________
DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs