Anyone Up For a Comfort Walk?

When I was obese and would be stressed out about something in my life (work, relationships, or just life in general) I would turn to food for comfort.  Who doesn't?  We all do it.

My usual comfort foods from the past:

• An entire box of Kraft Mac n' Cheese
• A row of Oreo cookies
• A pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
• My favorite deep-dish cheese pizza (the whole thing) with a bucket of Ranch dressing on the side.  YUM.

Sure, I could still turn to these foods today for some stress relief and some comfort, but I don't usually.

Now when I'm stressing out or feel the need to eat some comfort food, I try to redirect my energy to exercise instead. 

Yep, that would be a "comfort" walk or a "comfort" Zumba class.  Don't you roll your eyes at me! :-)

If you had told me I would be talking about exercise this way a year ago, I would have told you that you were on crack.  Exercise? for COMFORT? What glue are you sniffin'?!  It's amazing how much my mind has changed about the concept of exercise.

I always feel so much better after exercising - a feeling that I have never had from eating a trough of Mac n' Cheese.

So the next time you're craving some comfort food, can you instead go for a "comfort" bike ride or perhaps a "comfort" walk?  I know I will.