7 Healthcast: Stressless weight loss

Stress can be very hard on your health, especially when you're trying to lose weight.

"It's very hard to control our appetite when we're in stress response," said Director of Lighten Up Program Peg Baim, NP.

And no one knows that better than 54-year-old Peter McCoy of New Beford.

Peter's weighed soared to over 300 pounds. He knew he had to do something, so he turned to Mass. General's Benson Henry Institute for mind body medicine and their Lighten Up Program.

The program teaches techniques on how to turn off stress and avoid bad behaviors.

"We teach people how to think in ways that will also turn off the stress response," said Baim.

Program directors say one of the keys is getting your sleep.

"So sleep is the most essential. Most people are only getting five or six hours and we know that people need eight to nine hours of sleep. Without enough sleep your metabolism will not regulate and your body will try to hold onto and excess calories and hang on to the fat," said Baim.

They also encourage relaxation methods and a lot of meditation.

"So first is sleep, second to that is really a competition between meditation, exercise and nutrition," said Baim.

Through training, Peter learned to use these techniques in his daily life.

"Now I meditate three to seven times a week depending on my stress level," said McCoy. "The foundation of the mindfulness, the meditation practice, the relaxation response...the stress reducers in my life is what keeps me on track and doing as well as I am."  

And he is doing very well! Peter's lost 130 pounds and he's keeping it off!

He says he knows he will always face some stress, but now he says he has the tools to manage it.

"They're gonna come up in everyday life whether its children, life, excess bills, whatever comes in and you have to find ways to deal with it," said McCoy.

(Copyright (c) 2011 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)