A topic that comes up frequently among my midlife clients is how stress affects weight loss. Stress can seriously mess with your progress. The good news is understanding it can help you stay on track.
Stress releases a hormone called cortisol, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in short bursts. However, when you're stressed all the time, cortisol levels stay high, which can lead to weight gain, especially around your belly. It's like your body is preparing for a long-term emergency, storing fat as a survival mechanism.
High cortisol makes you crave junk food, those sugary, high-calorie treats that are hard to resist. Not only do these cravings add extra calories, but cortisol also signals your body to store more fat, particularly in the belly area. This combination makes it harder to lose belly fat, which is linked to health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Stress eating is a real struggle many of us face. When we're feeling overwhelmed, it's easy to reach for comfort foods, often sugary and high-calorie options that momentarily make us feel better. Unfortunately, this habit only adds to the problem, contributing to weight gain and making it even harder to manage our health and wellness goals.
By understanding how stress impacts our bodies, we can start making small changes to break the cycle and support our weight loss efforts.
- Mindful Eating: Try mindful eating. Pay attention to what you eat and how much. This can help you avoid stress-eating.
- Regular Exercise: Exercise regularly. It lowers cortisol and boosts your mood. Even 30 minutes a day can help.
- Relaxation Techniques: Use relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation. They help reduce stress and lower cortisol.
One of my clients managed her stress and saw amazing weight loss results. She focused on exercise and mindful eating. When she came to me, she was struggling with low thyroid function. What she didn't realize was that she wasn't really eating the right foods for her goals and overall health. This was causing her stress hormone to elevate and affect her thyroid. Once we set her custom macros and she was eating MORE, her thyroid function improved and she began to see progress.
Got questions about stress and weight loss? Ask away!
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