Hey Joe ~
Welcome to you! I like your attitude - it seems like you've turned a corner, too because you recognize that if we intend to keep the weight off, we must remain diligent with the new lifestyle or those
pounds return.
I also noted that you've identified that you are a stress eater. Many of us are - that means we eat not because our body needs fuel or because of true hunger but because of deadlines, wanting to avoid something or someone, emotional discomfort, boredom, habit (like going to a movie and downing a family size dumpster of popcorn drenched in butter-flavored oil) etc.
Something that helps me is every time I 'feel' like eating, I ask myself, "Is it TIME to eat? How long has it been since you last ate? Am I eating because I am truly hungry? Why do you want to eat?"
If I cannot come up with an answer such as "It's been two and a half hours since I last ate...My stomach is growling and I feel hollow...I want to eat because it is my usual meal time" then I work on distracting myself -
make a phone call to someone, drink a bottle of
water, do the laundry, read a couple chapters in my book, drink more water, add a few pieces to a puzzle I'm working on,
play some CDs, do
sit-ups, go for a
walk, etc.
Learn some new coping strategies and then when those stressful times come (And they
WILL come - nearly every
dang day!), you'll be able to handle them in non-foody ways.
Way to go, Joe - your gonna
look great the summer of your 40th year when you are wearing shorts and a tank top with no belly floppage!