I find that the times I start craving carbohydrates are when I am stressed out -- my teenagers are driving me crazy, my boss is driving me crazy, the house is a mess, etc. -- all the basic stressors in life. Instead of breaking down and eating carbohydrates at those times, I've been giving myself permission to do something I really enjoy: sipping a cup of herb tea and reading a book, taking a warm shower, driving to a park for a walk rather than trudging through the streets of my neighborhood, or calling up a friend. I often have trouble finding time for myself in my life; since starting this WOE I have decided that finding that time is a priority if I'm not going to slip back into unhealthy ways of eating. Carbohydrates help with stress temporarily, but in the long run they cause more stress.

Liz