How Stress Affects Weight Loss
I think we really have become obsessed with calories and portions to the point that we are stressed. Stressing leads to eating, among other things and, well, there we go again. I am all for controlling portions but not at the expense of anxiety. Calories matter but if we are freaking out over the fact that we over did our fat (or whatever) grams, well, our bodies respond by slowing down our metabolism.
Our body has no idea why the stress is caused it only knows that certain hormones are signalling “trouble” which tells hypothalamus to slow down metabolism. Yikes! You can’t win for losing, can you!
And where does this emergency fat get stored? In your waistline!!
It seems, too, that we can directly relate belly fat with stress hormones. Again, any kind of stress will signal “danger” to the body. Whether running from a bear, watching an accident happen, severely changing your eating habits, getting tense over a deadline, getting a late start in the morning … your body just knows that you have danger and will respond accordingly.
So, relax. Take your new eating plan one step at a time. Learn to forgive your transgressions. Begin each day anew. So what if you had an extra cookie or two. Just purpose to walk a little further. Work out a little longer. Eat less next meal.
But do yourself a favor and learn to let it go. Stress can kill a diet faster than anything. Hey, don’t look at it as though it is the end of the world. Just a bump in the road.