Yes, stress can contribute to your weight gain in several ways.
When you are under stress, your body releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline is like lighter fluid – it is fast burning. It is the fight or flight quick response. After we burn the adrenaline, our body produces cortisol. Cortisol is more like charcoal, it is slower and burns longer. If we do not burn off all of the cortisol, it will deposit in the mid-section of the body and become fat.
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Studies have shown that people with higher stress cortisol levels ate more food, ate more sweets, and had more fat in the belly.
When you are stressed, you usually have problems sleeping. That is probably why studies show that the lesser sleep a person gets, the higher the cortisol level in the body. I’m guessing the higher cortisol level came first from stress which caused the person to sleep less. Stress can make you fat because you go through the quick food drive through because you don’t feel like going home and cooking dinner. You can also have unhealthy cravings and do emotional eating. Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism. When your metabolism slows down, you burn less calories. |
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Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, which can cause mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Several years ago, I personally experienced getting hyperglycemia as a result of stress. The bad thing is that you never fully recover. A great product for balancing blood sugar levels and helping with carb digestion is Snack Defense.
Lose Weight
You can lose weight by reducing stress and getting more sleep. Find a stress reducing method that works for you. Here are some suggestions:
- Take Deep Breaths – breathing deep not only relaxes your muscles and helps quiet your mind, it also helps get more oxygen in the blood, which energizes the brain.
- Imagine Your Peaceful Place – Think of a place you enjoy where you can imagine yourself being without any negative thoughts popping up.
- Do Yoga – not only great for your body, but focuses on clearing your mind.
- Walk – Take a walk in the morning, on your lunch break, or in the evening.
- Exercise – Find any kind of exercise that you enjoy, not only to help your health, but to release those endorphins that make you feel good.
Be sure to check out the products Relax Now and Sleep Now under the Stress Management category. Request the promo code and I will send it to you.
Take the free stress tests at About.com.
