Friday, January 7, 2011

Control Your Weight And Stress



The end of the year is stressful for many of us. The effects of worrying too much is often seen around the growing waistline of a person. Worrying about things causes out internal systems to do things to protect us. This leads to the release of various hormones.
The reaction to stress is something that happens at any time and is not limited to the Christmas season. The body thinks that it is about to be harmed and it needs to fight for its lives. To answer this need, we experience a burst of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow, and other changes.
If you remain in this state for a prolonged amount of time due to chronic stress, your health becomes at risk. Aside from a host of other dangers, chronic stress can also cause weight gain. Add the temptations that surround us during the holidays to the stress and a person has the perfect combination for packing on the extra pounds and will soon find themselves trying to find a way how to lose weight fast at home in a week once the holidays are over and a person has looked in the mirror. Because of some different things, this can occur.
Your ability to burn calories changes. Many people feel like they put on more weight when they are stressed. This happens even if you are eating the same amount of food as you always have. Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism. This causes more weight gain than you would normally experience. A slower metabolism is a big obstacle for anyone trying to get fit.
We desire certain types of foods. People get stressed. Do you reach for a nice salad or a dish of ice cream? The second one is commonly chosen. Comfort foods are one of the things that we turn to in these situations. Food that is easy to eat or just tasted really good are common support systems. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain.
Our body’s other systems are also affected. Glucose levels in you body are much harder to control when faced with constant stressful situations. Too much stress has even been linked many health problems. Constant stress causes much more than a bulging waistline.
Our body processes fat in a different way. Many people who worry a lot are likely to have larger stomachs. Most of us try to avoid that middle aged spread. The problems that are caused because of increased fat levels around the stomach have been well documented.
As the year nears its’ end a person can do a few things to try to deal with the stressful situations.

We turn to emotional eating. We not only crave unhealthy food, but excess nervous energy can often cause you to eat more than you normally would. Think about how you have reacted to stress, and what types of foods that you normally turn to when you are under that stress even though you know you should not do it.
We look for the easy way to prepare our meals. People feel crunched for time. A person turns to the convenience that is offered by the take out restaurant. This choice is not going to help their waistline. It is believed to be one of the major reasons for many peoples weight gain.
Regular physical activity is put off until later. With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to do list and the commercials that promise a way for us to learn how to lose weight fast without exercise and pills seems like just the thing that will solve our weight issues, but the reality is that it is only a temporary solution and the only way to get to a healthy weight and stay there is through a proper diet and exercise program.
The Christmas season is not an excuse for people to accept the weight they gain. Find ways to make healthier choices. In the end your body will thank you.

No comments: