Day-to-day living can have many stressful moments. These stressors can be as extreme as being robbed or as minimal as running late for work, but either way your body will have the same response. If you are trying to achieve a weight loss goal, stress can derail even the most motivated individual's attempt. But just because you are stressed doesn't mean you will not be able to lose weight. All you need is to learn a few techniques to cope with daily stress.
What Is Stress?
When you encounter a stressful situation or feel threatened, your hypothalamus --- a small region at the base of your brain --- sets off a natural alarm system in your body known as the "fight or flight" reaction, according to MayoClinic.com. A combination of signals triggers your adrenal glands, positioned on top of your kidneys, to release hormones to counteract the stressor.
Hormones
The two hormones released from your adrenal glands are adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts the supply of energy, according to MayoClinic.com. Cortisol --- the primary stress hormone --- increases glucose in your bloodstream and enhances your brain's use of this glucose. Cortisol changes your immune system responses and restrains the digestive and reproductive systems. If you are constantly under stress, your body is continuously producing adrenaline and cortisol, which interrupt all of your body's processes and puts you at a higher risk of health problems, including obesity.
Diet
When you are stressed, it is harder to stick to a healthy diet and an exercise routine. MayoClinic.com states when you are in a stressed state you may turn to stress eating, in which you look to food to fulfill emotional needs. If you struggle with stress eating, there are certain techniques you can use to manage your feelings, according to MayoClinic.com. Before you eat, ask yourself why you feel the need to eat --- are you hungry or do you feel anxious or stressed. Also it is important to keep a record or journal of your eating habits so you can patterns and figure out how to change them.
Stress Management
There are many other techniques you can utilize to help manage and minimize your stress levels. Engaging in daily physical activity helps release endorphins and elevates your mood. Yoga and meditation are ways to help ease your mind and relax your body through stretching and breathing techniques. If these options do not help with your stress levels, it may be in your best interest to seek assistance from a professional counselor who can offer you more options to help manage stress.
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