What is "s-t-r-e-s-s-e-d" for you?

I have a confession to make.

Actually, it's not really a confession, mostly that's just a really cool, attention-grabbing word.

My non-confession confession: 
When I get really stressed out, I turn to desserts. Namely, chocolate.


D-e-s-s-e-r-t-s is s-t-r-e-s-s-e-d backwards, so it's okay, right?

My weekend started off marvelously. I learned a valuable lesson too.
For months, actually over a year, I have told my sweet Mr. Man that I absolutely cannot run outside because:
a. I don't want to run alone.
b. It's too cold or too hot.
c. There are too many hills in our 'hood and I don't like hills

On Saturday morning something changed. Maybe it was the fact that our 12 week old puppy barked her brains out at 6:00 am sharp until we got up. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn't fall back asleep. Maybe it was the fact that I knew I was making cinnamon rolls the next day so I should at least have a walk. Whatever it was, I  got out of bed, put on my shoes and headed out the door.

No, it was not easy.
I promised myself I would run (and by run I mean walk/jog) for at least 30 minutes before coming home. I started out and it felt good.
Then it hurt.
Then I came to a hill.
Luckily at the same time as the hill popped up in front of me, LMFAO popped on in my headphones.
Somehow, I miraculously made it all the way up the hill. Jogging. Without stopping.
About halfway up, I saw the sun peaking through the trees: rays of hope urging me forward.
I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I almost cried.
Then I reached the top.
I had accomplished something. Something very difficult. Something I thought was impossible.
I finished my run jubilantly with an incredulous amount of self-satisfaction.
There are no adequate words to describe my feelings.
Other than the thought that popped in my mind: "If this is how I feel reaching the top of that hill, I wonder what it feels like to see the finish line of a half-marathon. I have to do it."


The lesson I learned: running outside, in the morning, as the sun is coming up, is ridiculously invigorating, and SO much better than a treadmill!

Then I made cinnamon rolls the next day. Buttery, sugary, drenched in icing, cinnamon rolls.
I also finished off those blasted cadbury eggs, a bag of robin eggs, ate some trail mix with m&m's, some peanut butter cookies, and opened a bag of crunch eggs.
I had a stressful day over the weekend. So I turned to chocolate.
My great demise.
My huge flaw. Aside from that I'm perfect, didn't you know? *winky wink*

And now that it's Monday, I'm in a sugar coma, and I feel slightly discouraged, plus still stressed, and I'm wondering: what is a better way to de-stress my stress without turning to chocolate?


Help me out: how do you de-stress your stress without turning to food?
Please share.
Otherwise I may need therapy and a personal trainer someday...

For now, I will just have to consider whether buying a kitchen table will help de-stress me or not.
Peace, love, and Go Jayhawks!!!!