All of us, as human beings, require a certain level of stress in our lives in order to remain stimulated and motivated. If  stress existed solely for this purpose, it would be a purely positive thing. Unfortunately, in today’s world, stress levels are excessive in most people and for the most part are negative in their nature.

But what does that have to do with overall health, and more specifically, weight loss? The answer is – everything!

One of the ways the body reacts to stressful situations is  by releasing a stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is a scary word, but it really shouldn’t be! After all, it’s a good thing! Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands for energy production to respond to stressful events. In the days of our ancestors, cortisol is what was generated to elicit the “fight or flight” response in the face of danger.

We certainly can’t argue that having this hormone running through our bloodstream isn’t a positive thing when it comes to evading danger. However, when the stress response is being triggered repeatedly over time, the adrenal gland becomes fatigued and eventually loses its ability to release cortisol at normal levels. Just like any other hormone in the body,when its levels are constantly elevated, it loses its effectiveness.

Now, in this day and age, chances are we’re not going to come across a Bengal tiger while enjoying a leisurely stroll through the National Mall. However, we are constantly in a  state of stress to meet the demands of the hectic pace of a busy, driven lifestyle. Battling traffic, fighting for  parking spaces, meeting deadlines at work and watching the  evening news elicit the same physiological responses as  running for your life! Unfortunately for us, however, these stimuli never go away.

Therefore, without proper stress management techniques in our lives, stress levels and cortisol levels remain chronically elevated. If you’re trying to lose, or even maintain your weight, this is a recipe for disaster. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol can lead to weight gain in several ways.

Sugar Cravings – When you’re stressed out, are you reaching for a nice bowl of mixed greens or are you gravitating toward the candy dish? My guess is the latter. People just tend to  use sweet foods as a coping mechanism for stress. This of course spikes the blood glucose levels and ultimately leads to excess fat storage.

Slowed metabolism – Another bad side effect of over an over-stimulated adrenal gland. Cortisol eventually slows down your metabolism, which in turn slows your body’s ability to use calories efficiently.

Emotional Eating – This is a powerful thing! Increased stress levels create excess nervous energy which can often cause people to over eat as a way to cope with a situation. I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves absent-mindedly munching on food when we’re stressed out even when we’re not hungry.

Sleep Deprivation – When stress levels are high, we generally  don’t sleep well. When the body doesn’t get enough rest, the first thing it will crave to achieve an energy boost is a  glucose spike. Where do we get glucose? From sugary, processed foods. And so the viscous cycle continues.

Decreased energy levels – Remember that the adrenal gland is responsible for producing hormones for energy production. If it becomes fatigued from over stimulation, so will your body. With declined energy levels, obviously the motivation to exercise decreases as well. With all the other demands on your schedule, the tendency is going to be to plop in front of your television from exhaustion, not to exercise.

So what’s the solution? You certainly can’t eliminate stress from your life all together. If I could find a way, I’d be the first to share it with you. The key to making stress manageable (and in turn making weight loss more manageable as well) is finding stress reduction techniques. Everyone is different, but there are a few things that you can do that tend to work for  most people. Among these are exercise, different forms of meditation and breathing techniques, Yoga classes and low glycemic eating. You have to find what works for you, but you will find your weight loss struggles drastically easier once you do!

Also, don’t forget that time is running out to get FREE Personal Training! January 31st is the last day to take advantage of our offer to get 3 FREE sessions when you purchase a package of 12 or more. Call Mike at 888-872-7961 ext. 1 to get signed up!

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