Last month I promised you that we would discuss how stress contributes to sabotaging our eating habits. First, we have to determine what we think of when we hear the word 'stress'. There are many different ideas about stress, as many ideas as there are people in the world. Stress, quite simply is the way you react -- physically and emotionally -- to change. It can be positive or negative. In any case, we can learn to identify and manage stress so that we can be in control. So it looks to me that rather than diet, stress and how it's handled is many persons downfall.

Positive stress helps us to concentrate, focus, perform and reach our peak efficiency. Many of us do our best under pressure. I know that I do. So after your challenge is over take time to relax and enjoy your achievements. You need the time off to rebuild for your next onslaught of stress.

Negative stress, on the other hand, keeps you 'geared up' to the point that anything, minor and major, will 'push your buttons', so to speak. Ongoing negative stress, say the health professionals, can affect your health and well being, from headaches to heart attacks, from anorexia to overeating. And stress overeating is the leading cause of obesity in America.

Stress is a fact of life, but it needn't be a way of life. I know that there are many things in life that are simply out of our control, but there are very few that we can't learn to manage. But first we have to have the ability to be aware of the positive or negative things that contribute to making us feel stressed. Here, we'll refer to them as 'stressors'. You'll probably agree, I'm sure, that in order to be aware that you are under any kind of stress you must first know what has caused your stress, tension and anxiety -- good or bad. Look for those red flags and listen for such signs as headaches, stomach upsets, tensed muscles, clenched teeth, cold or clammy hands, etc. Instead of you 'feeding' those symptoms, be aware of them and tackle their sources. My first inclination to avoiding stress is to creatively cook and then eat my creations! Thus, I'm eating up my stress! Thus, my body took on an extra hundred pounds.

The way in which I attacked my stress problems has had extremely disastrous results for me. So, along with my diet, I have started an internal campaign to combat stress. Good news! I lost another three pounds this last month, that makes ten altogether. The slow down in my weight loss was due to a few bouts with unmanageable stress and all of the affairs that I attended these past six weeks. You see, I just couldn't handle the stress of saying no that I wouldn't attend -- "I'm dieting." Nor was I able to handle the stress of attending and turning myself away from all the delicious food that was put before me.

But I'm not disappointed in myself. Losing three pounds is still better than losing no pounds at all!

Next month's article will discuss techniques of handling stress, which will be followed in the next months by some comments on the attitudes of stress.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
We have had a good response to 'Big Al's" feature. He will comment on his email as space allows. Contact him on site; http://www.4pointspress.com or direct your email to the Editor.