Stress Part II – 5 Ways to Stop Stress From Ruining Your Weight Loss

Have you ever felt anxious about something and then gone for a brisk walk? Chances are your anxiety was gone, or at least noticeably less intense, after the walk. Exercise is the first, and perhaps most beneficial way you can stop stress from ruining your weight management (to learn more about how stress can do so, check our previous post: The Stress Series – Part I).

1. Exercise – We saw in The Stress Series Part Ithat your body reacts to stress by releasing hormones, like cortisol, to trigger a ‘fight or flight” response that increases your appetite, your blood sugar levels and stores more fat. During times of chronic stress, the combination can wreak havoc with weight management programs.Exercise not only burns off a lot of the excess energy built up in times of stress, it decreases the body’s production of cortisol, which reduces your appetite, blood-sugar levels and fat. And exercise is just plain good for you.
2. Keep Your Blood-Sugar Stable – Like exercise, when you reduce your intake of simple carbs, like those you get from sweet pastries, cookies and candy, not only do you reduce your calorie intake, but you also reduce your body’s production of cortisol.
3. Try to Calm Down – When you notice the signs that your stress levels are going up, or when you encounter one of the regular triggers of stress, try to keep the level of stress as low as possible. Stop for a moment and breathe deeply. Inhale slowly for a count of four and consciously expand your body as you do. Exhale for a count of four and deflate your body. Repeat this for four or five breaths.
4. Get Proper Sleep – Similar to its reaction to stress, when you do not get enough sleep, your body thinks something is wrong and takes steps, like storing fat, to be ready for a crisis. Regularly getting a good night’s sleep helps to keep your hormone levels stable and reduces your chances of feeling stress.
5. Get Proper Nutrition – Stress depletes your body of minerals and nutrients. A program of healthy foods and the right nutritional supplements not only replaces the nutrients, but helps to reduce the level of stress you feel.

Your local Herbal One nutritional consultant can help to make sure you get the nutrition and healthy diet you need to help you reduce stress and the problems it causes.