Stress Management - Why It"s Hard to Lose Weight When We Are in Chronic Stress
If you think chronic stress is just "okay" for your health, you thought wrong.
Actually chronic stress does a lot to our body.
But what really happens when we are stressed out whether at home or work? Stress and its effects to our body particularly fat retention can be attributed to our adrenal glands.
Our adrenal glands release hormones that deliver messages to the different parts of our body to function well.
When we suffer from stress, this very same gland releases stress hormones in huge amounts.
The reaction of our body to this increase in hormones may even result to production of excess fat.
The mechanism by which excess fat is produced can be explained in a lot of ways.
First, stress hormones signal the brain to increase our appetite for pleasurable foods.
These pleasurable foods, also known as comfort foods, such as sugary and fatty foods and alcoholic drinks obviously contribute to the production of excess fat in our bodies.
Another response these hormones bring about is the resistance of fat cells to metabolism.
In easier terms, our fat cells hold on to as much fat and produce as little as stored fat such that no matter how we try to exercise if we are stressed out chronically, we will still have as much fat as before.
Stress hormones also suppress the effects of other hormones such as insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
When this happens, blood sugar level will spike up and so does our craving for comfort food.
This is why diabetics should never be stressed out as the effects of stress hormones to their glucose level may be fatal When we are in chronic stress, serotonin which is our "mood" hormone, interferes with stress hormones making us crave more for comfort foods.
Stress hormones also interact with hormones responsible for growth leading to muscle loss and fat gain.
In relation to growth, stress hormones also affect our thyroid functions.
As such metabolism is greatly affected.
When these effects combine simultaneously, it can lead to weight gain.
How? Calories are taken in more while burning off calories becomes difficult.
What is worse is we gain weight around our bellies.
Fat on our bellies increases our risk for developing hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
Scientists have discovered that stress is the most likely cause of excess fat in our belly that is often figure-destroying, and life-threatening, with its effects affecting mostly American women and an estimated number of 47 million! Stress management is by far the most effective means of decreasing stress and stress related weight gain.
Actually, a lot can be done to manage and minimize stress.
Exercise and meditation will greatly help in managing stress.
A healthy diet that is eaten at regular times and in small amounts is crucial to maintaining weight and figure.
Actually chronic stress does a lot to our body.
But what really happens when we are stressed out whether at home or work? Stress and its effects to our body particularly fat retention can be attributed to our adrenal glands.
Our adrenal glands release hormones that deliver messages to the different parts of our body to function well.
When we suffer from stress, this very same gland releases stress hormones in huge amounts.
The reaction of our body to this increase in hormones may even result to production of excess fat.
The mechanism by which excess fat is produced can be explained in a lot of ways.
First, stress hormones signal the brain to increase our appetite for pleasurable foods.
These pleasurable foods, also known as comfort foods, such as sugary and fatty foods and alcoholic drinks obviously contribute to the production of excess fat in our bodies.
Another response these hormones bring about is the resistance of fat cells to metabolism.
In easier terms, our fat cells hold on to as much fat and produce as little as stored fat such that no matter how we try to exercise if we are stressed out chronically, we will still have as much fat as before.
Stress hormones also suppress the effects of other hormones such as insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
When this happens, blood sugar level will spike up and so does our craving for comfort food.
This is why diabetics should never be stressed out as the effects of stress hormones to their glucose level may be fatal When we are in chronic stress, serotonin which is our "mood" hormone, interferes with stress hormones making us crave more for comfort foods.
Stress hormones also interact with hormones responsible for growth leading to muscle loss and fat gain.
In relation to growth, stress hormones also affect our thyroid functions.
As such metabolism is greatly affected.
When these effects combine simultaneously, it can lead to weight gain.
How? Calories are taken in more while burning off calories becomes difficult.
What is worse is we gain weight around our bellies.
Fat on our bellies increases our risk for developing hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
Scientists have discovered that stress is the most likely cause of excess fat in our belly that is often figure-destroying, and life-threatening, with its effects affecting mostly American women and an estimated number of 47 million! Stress management is by far the most effective means of decreasing stress and stress related weight gain.
Actually, a lot can be done to manage and minimize stress.
Exercise and meditation will greatly help in managing stress.
A healthy diet that is eaten at regular times and in small amounts is crucial to maintaining weight and figure.
Source...