Thursday is supposed to be about writing, but what I’ve discovered is that my favorite thing to do when cranking out the pages is to EAT! The more carbs, the better. Pasta, YUM! Bread, awesome! Chocolate, ice cream, chocolate ice cream. Come to momma.
I think it’s a stress-reliever for me, which I’ve been told is very, very bad, but I think food is a better stress reliever, then say, robbing a bank, or pounding my head on the pavement. I actually do like to exercise as well, but when the clock is ticking, I feel guilty about heading to the gym (do not snicker, I actually do feel that way).
I internalize a lot of things, so the more pressure I’m feeling, the quieter I get, and when Kathleen is not talking, the family can usually guess why, and we go out of eat. (I have them trained well).
Last night we went to this BBQ place that has a lot of Southern style food. I had ribs (OK), and sautéed spinach (better). I think I would have preferred pasta (see above carbs comment), but the protein is good. It’s a very Texasy sort of place with covered wagon tables and a mechanical bull. I have never ridden the bull (nor will I ever), but it is pretty cool.
After that, we came home and I took a break. Looking back this AM, I can say that this was a wise choice. Sometimes it is a good idea to step back and take a few hours off. On a good day, writing is a lot of fun. On a bad day, it’s just another job. I’ll take my good days, I think and do what I can to turn the bad days into the good days. And if I have to eat to do it, well fine!
So, today’s topic is stress. What do you all do when you stressed? Eat, bite fingernails, exercise until you keel over?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I dont’ think of myself as being stressed; however, after a nine and a half hour day taking care of my 4 young granddaughters, =myhubby comes home and says “is yur wine poured yet?”…..so I’ll say drinking a glass of merlot or chardonnay and sitting out on the deck with hubby is my stress reliever! Course, books help too you know!
Karen, I think that sounds like the perfect end to the day!
Kettle chips in all flavors
I have worked very, very hard in the past 20 months to break that connection between feeling stressed (or almost any strong emotion) and the urge to stuff my face with some success. Dr. David Kessler in his book the end of overeating: taking control of the insatiable american appetite makes the argument that the only healthy feeling of reward (as in triggering neural pathways in the brain) similar to the one from overeating is exercise, and you can train your brain to crave the exercise instead of food. Last year when I was dragging myself to the gym, I would tell myself I am rewiring my brain. I did to some extent, and that’s been so, so great.
I’ve lots of other tips on avoiding overeating when stressed, but it’s been a much bigger problem for me, and I don’t want to go on for too long. Best wishes, Kathleen!
Michelle, that is excellent advice. Tomorrow, I am taking an hour off to hit the gym. Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes hearing words of advice from a good friend helps a lot.
Yes, I wish I was one of those people who could sigh and say, “Oh, I’m so stressed, I just couldn’t eat a thing.” Instead I say, “Okay, where’s the food?” followed closely by, “The heck with exercise.” I keep trying to find ways to lessen my stress, but just when I think I’ve made a little progress, WHAMMO–more stress.
I want a vacation!
Sadly, it’s usually the vacation that is my number one cause of stress. Mainly because work does not disappear, I just must do 150% in order to not get behind on vacation. Someday, I will not have a book deadline during a vacation. Someday!!!
Oh my gosh, I eat like that when I’m editing. I think that’s when the nerves get to me, in edits. When I’m writing, I mean really into it, I could even forget to eat (which is so rare it’s laughable, that I would actually forget to eat). But when editing? Going over revisions. I chow down. So yes, I stress eat. I also stress pace, and stress talk to myself or sing out loud at inappropriate times. Stress makes me a little crazy, apparently.
LOL about singing out loud. I would love to see that. I don’t mind editing too much, but inputting the edits is what is dull, dull, dull!
LOL. I probably shouldn’t even comment on this topic, but… A lot of extra stress around here over the past few weeks. I would love to report that I’ve handled it all with prayer, meditation, healthy food and plenty of exercise.
Let’s just say that I’ve invented heretofore unknown whines and have gained back a few of those pounds that took soooo long to work off. *sigh*
VB, wow, good for you. You’re handling stress so well!
Oh, you could write a book! Meditate, Pray, Jog.
I guess that means mine would be Eat, Pace, Tourette’s.
I’m tired, Sherri, so forgive me if you were using sarcasm that flew over my head. LOL.
The key word there was that I would ‘love’ to report that I handled it in that manner. Sadly, I have not. Nope, just whining, crankiness and food. Did I mention food? Salty, sweet, doesn’t matter.
No, my book would be more like: Chip Away at That Stress (How Doritos and Ruffles Saved my Sanity but Ruined My Waistline)
Oh, no, I read it wrong. I thought you were reporting that you had it all figured out. LOL. Okay, so wishful thinking.
Sorry about that VB. Is is possible that stress is a contagion and I group can all be stressed at the same time? Or is it the sad truth that today, EVERYBODY is stressed? Good luck with it, and I hope yours passes soon.
So far, my weight is staying steady, but I’m nervous about an uptick.
Ea, freakout, Eat would be my book.
I would so read that.
ROFL!!!