10 Powerful Ways to De-Stress and Lose Weight
Website design By BotEap.comOne thing that comes up repeatedly when studying weight loss is the fact that while we live in a modern world, we don’t live in modern bodies. Our bodies have changed little in the last 30,000 years, and many of the ways our hormones respond to things like hunger and stress are tailored to a much, much less sedentary lifestyle than we live today. Because of the way our lifestyles have outpaced our bodies’ ability to evolve, many of the “correct” signals sent out by our brains have the “wrong” result: instead of helping our survival disease, they can increase our risk of death by promoting weight gain.
Website design By BotEap.comThe cortisol hormone is an example of this phenomenon. Studies are increasingly showing that this hormone, which is released when you are under stress, contributes to weight gain and obesity today in a way that it would not have in prehistoric times.
Website design By BotEap.comWhen you’re under stress, your brain calls on cortisol to provide you with “emergency” energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores, moving it to the abdomen and providing the body with protein for energy production. This occurs through the process of converting amino acids to glucose in the liver called gluconeogenesis. It also ripens fat cells and makes the brain crave more “high energy” foods, such as sugars and fats, something that can cause your tendency to reach for “comfort foods” when you’re upset.
Website design By BotEap.comWhy does your brain send these signals? During prehistoric times, being under stress used to require much more physical activity and therefore required much more energy than it does today. Those early stressors would have been largely due to events like running from a predator, having little food and having to hunt and drill for long hours, or having one’s shelter destroyed and having to build a new one, not having to pay cellphone. invoice or being late for an appointment due to rush hour traffic. Thus, the body is trained to release its energy stores and crave more of what it produces energy when under stress, as it assumes a physical threat needs to be addressed.
Website design By BotEap.comThis can be a real handicap for those of you looking to lose weight, due to the fact that it’s very hard to fight your basic instincts. Also, due to our current lifestyle, there is also no way to prevent stress from entering our lives. However, all is not lost. If we learn to regulate and limit our body’s production of cortisol, we can reduce our risk of disease and lose weight. Before you start reducing stress in your life, make sure a healthy diet is at the top of your to-do list.
Website design By BotEap.comTry these 10 helpful tips to reduce stress (cortisol levels) and lose weight:
Website design By BotEap.com1. eliminate caffeine (or at least greatly reduce it).
Website design By BotEap.comDrinking caffeine causes an increase in cortisol levels, probably due to the fact that it increases adrenaline levels and heart rate, just like stress.
Website design By BotEap.comtwo. Eliminate processed foods.
Website design By BotEap.comAh, there are so many reasons to do this, aren’t there? In addition to all the other problems that processed foods can cause, they also raise cortisol levels. Sugars and simple carbohydrates are the worst offenders. Eat a healthy diet enriched with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Website design By BotEap.com3. Drink plenty of water.
Website design By BotEap.comDehydration can lead to a spike in cortisol levels, which can become a dangerous cycle, as stressed-out people are also more prone to dehydration.
Website design By BotEap.comFour. Exercise.
Website design By BotEap.comThis is just logical, isn’t it? If your body is giving you energy because it expects you to need to be active, burn off that energy by being active. Try a relaxing exercise, like yoga, and get a double benefit by also lowering your heart rate. Another great way to reduce stress is to walk. It’s also a fun way to lose weight.
Website design By BotEap.com5. Listen to some music.
Website design By BotEap.comMusic has been shown to lower cortisol levels in patients about to undergo surgery and also raise serotonin levels in the brain. Select your favorite music and relax.
Website design By BotEap.com6. Laughter.
Website design By BotEap.comLaughter greatly slows down your body’s production of cortisol. If you’re feeling stressed, wind down with a good comedy or joke around with your friends. It will take the weight of the world off your shoulders and belly.
Website design By BotEap.com7. To meditate.
Website design By BotEap.comThis age-old stress reducer activates the vagus nerve, which causes your body to lower cortisol levels. Try meditating for 30 minutes a day, at least three times a week, and see if you don’t feel a difference in your ability to handle stress.
Website design By BotEap.com8. Get your 8 hours.
Website design By BotEap.comSleep deprivation has been shown to cause weight gain, and once again, cortisol comes into play. Not getting enough sleep causes the body to produce more cortisol, and it’s another type of “vicious cycle” situation, because stress keeps us awake at night. Exercise, chamomile tea, and natural sleep aids can go a long way toward helping you rest.
Website design By BotEap.com9. Spend quality time with your pets.
Website design By BotEap.comThere’s a reason animals are used as a form of therapy: Your furry friends can boost your endorphins and lower your cortisol levels in no time.
Website design By BotEap.com10 Be creative.
Website design By BotEap.comWhether your passion is art, music, writing, or something else, creative expression releases endorphins while activating the parasympathetic nervous system and lowering your heart rate. This, in turn, lowers cortisol levels, while adding beauty to your life and boosting your confidence.