Effect of Stress in Weight Loss

Nothing good ever comes from eating a meal when feeling stressed. Think about the physical state of your body while under stress. You are probably tense, with a knot in your stomach, and your mind on so many different topics you can't think straight.Now imagine how destructive it would be to add food to that equation. If your body is tense and clenched, it won't be relaxed and able to accept food in a healthy way.

Aside from physical discomfort, stress can cause many harmful side effects. Research shows stress can cause obesity and other weight-related conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes.

One harmful side effect presenting itself after a stressful event is when your body first releases a hormone suppressing your desire for any food intake. The purpose of this is to divert your body's attention away from food and to the more prioritising need to resolve the stressful situation: also known as “fight-or-flight.” The next hormone release is the problem: several hours after this stressful event your body releases another hormone stimulating hunger.

Recognizing the difference between actual hunger and stress can be achieved through the practice of mindful eating. Before you make the decision to eat, think about your day and your current state of mind…

notice when you are feeling stressed and your brain feels scattered.
A good way to measure your level of stress is to clear your mind. If you can think clearly without distraction, then you are ready to begin building a connection with yourself, so your weight loss plans kick into gear.

Relaxation is a major factor when it comes to eating or overeating. When your mind and body are relaxed, you not only digest food more healthily you make better decisions about your food choices. Being at peace with yourself means treating others with kindness and living the way you want to be remembered by your family and friends.

If you are upset over how you handled a particular situation, you will not be at peace with yourself and, therefore, you will be not be satisfied with the food you chose to eat. There is nothing you can eat that will make you feel better about whatever is bothering you.

Connecting with nature doesn't always mean taking a walk through a forest. It can refer to the connection you have with food and how food either keeps you healthy or makes you overweight and unhealthy. If your feelings and actions are helping to make you sick, there is no amount of healthy food to help improve your overall health.

Remember to breathe slowly and deeply before starting to eat. A few deep breaths in and out to purge negative feelings and promote calmness before and while eating, will do wonders for your digestive system, overall health and weight loss plans.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.