I’m sure you know from experience that stress is an unavoidable part of our daily lives. A certain amount of stress is actually necessary for our survival; however, the amount of stress most people are under these days is causing more harm than good and can have serious health implications.
• 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress.
• 75%-90% of all medical visits are in some way related to stress.
Stress
Stress greatly impacts your health; it speeds up the aging process and leaves you feeling fatigued and demotivated. Not only is stress correlated with weight gain and the inability to lose weight, but it is also linked to a wide variety of diseases.
Stress, no matter where it is coming from, disrupts your body’s internal balance, known as homeostasis. There are two different categories of stress: acute (short term) and chronic (long term). Acute stress occurs when, for example, you have to slam on the breaks in the car, someone scares you or you are running late. Chronic stress is long-lasting and is linked to serious side effects.
Weight Gain:
When you feel stressed, your brain is affected. Your autonomic nervous system can’t tell the difference between physical and emotional stress, therefore, it reacts the same. The GAS (“General Adaptation Syndrome,” which is responsible for returning your body to internal balance) response to stress is immediate if there is a physical threat; however, most of the time the source of stress is not originating from a physical threat and there is no real need for “flight or fight.” Stress is related to weight gain because in order to fight or flee you need energy.
Pardon the science, but…
Cortisol is responsible for helping you to receive the energy you need, primarily by increasing your blood sugar. This is accomplished by converting protein to sugar, then releasing stored glucose in your liver, which is also why people crave carbohydrates when they feel stressed. The brain sends a signal indicating that energy is needed in order to fight or to flee.
When blood sugar levels are elevated, insulin (the fat-storing hormone) is secreted in order to transport the blood sugar to the brain and working muscles. Here is the catch: the muscles aren’t working because there is no physical stress, only emotional. People are usually sitting and not moving for long periods of time when feeling stressed. Can you guess what happens? The excess sugar you just secreted and ate in the form of carbohydrates gets stored as fat. When you are chronically stressed, this cycle continues to repeat itself. This creates feelings of exhaustion, flu-like symptoms, and disease.
As you can see (even in these more technical terms), stress is something we need to learn to manage – especially if we have noticed weight gain or find it hard to lose weight.
In my 60-day Flab to Fab Weight Loss Program, you will learn some great ways to manage your stress and find relief even when your time is limited. Reducing and managing stress is a huge part of weight loss.
I would love to see you experience the success that can be yours. You don’t have to stay on the rollercoaster of yo-yo dieting and fad diets anymore. You don’t have to live with stress in a way that is detrimental to your own health and well-being. I will educate you and show you the tools you need for life-long success.
You can do this!
You are not alone with this program.
STOP doing what you know. Start learning how to grow.
Commit to a healthier life and a healthier you. Lose weight the right way, and feel energized, healthy and strong in the process.
The program starts on February 3rd. Click the picture below to sign up now.
