Something very easily overlooked when it comes to weight loss and weight gain is stress. Stress is often underestimated. I don’t mean just the huge stressful events in life (although those do include them), but I really mean the stresses of daily life.
What is for dinner?
How will the kids get to the five different things we have this evening?
Why am I always running 15 minutes late?
Why can’t I get these pants to fit?
Where is my water bottle?
What am I going to do about XYZ?
How come I am so exhausted?
I could go on…
This is stress.
Stress is a part of everyday life, and it has a big effect on your body—whether you realize it or not.
You may notice a few extra pounds creeping on despite no drastic changes in your diet, or you may notice you need the next size up and wonder why. Stress may be the culprit.
Here are 4 Ways Stress May Be Keeping You From Shedding Pounds
Hormones
When we are stressed – big or small, our body goes into fight or flight mode. This happens because our flight or fight response (survival mode) kicks on to protect us even though we are not in real danger. When the adrenaline wears off, cortisol comes into play and stimulates us to eat to protect ourselves for next time.
Many of us become overeaters when we are feeling pressure or stress. Once this happens regularly, it can create a habit of eating when stressed or holding onto calories we have eaten. This also causes us to crave more sugary, fatty foods.
Environment
Space is so essential when shedding weight and keeping stress down. When your spaces, like your kitchen or bedroom, are cluttered with papers and clothes or toys, your brain has to go into overdrive to process the stuff. The more “stuff” you have in your life, the more your attention and thoughts are consumed, and the more your stress is triggered. Not only does this leave less mental space for thinking, but it also significantly affects your willpower and motivation. Having too much stuff around is a massive trigger for stress and snacking.
Cravings of Junk Foods
When chronically stressed, we crave “comfort foods,” such as a bag of potato chips or ice cream. These foods are easy to eat, highly processed, and high in fat, sugar, or salt. We crave these foods for both biological and psychological reasons. Stress may mess up our brain’s reward system, or cortisol may cause us to crave more fat and sugar. We also may have memories from childhood, such as the smell of freshly baked cookies, that lead us to associate sweet foods with comfort. When stressed, we may also be more likely to drive through the Fast Food place rather than take the time and mental energy to plan and cook a meal.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be a big trigger for emotional eating and also for lack of sleep – which affects weight loss. When you are anxious, you eat more “mindlessly” as you churn around worrying thoughts in your head, not even focusing on the taste of the food, how much you’ve eaten, or when you are feeling full. Eating mindlessly makes you likely eat more yet feel less satisfied.
You may notice that everyone in your family is more stressed when you are more stressed.
I notice this with my family. My mood often sets the tone of my family.
One way to get a handle on this common situation is to minimize the stressors of everyday life.
This can include things like making dinner, getting regular exercise, having less clutter in our environment, and understanding what stress management activities feel good to us!
When you decrease your daily stresses, you can feel more relaxed, more in control, less chaotic, and happier, which can help your body shed excess weight and give you more energy.
This can have a significant effect on you and your family.
Credit: Ali Hively, Fitness instructor
