If anxiety and stress are a regular part of your everyday life, you could be pressing pause on your weight loss progress.
Between work, family, workouts and, well, life, stress is a common problem for
many of us. The problem is, the anxiety that stress causes can be a trigger for
weight gain – and it can put a halt to weight loss quicker than you can say
“comfort food”. In one large American survey, 43 per cent of respondents
admitted to overeating, or to eating unhealthy foods, in response to stress – and
women were more likely to do it than men.
Ready for Action
Here’s the deal: your brain reacts to stress – whether physical or mental – by
sending out waves of hormones. First, there’s adrenaline, that heart-pumping
energy booster that’s designed to help us outrun the predators we used to face
way back when. These days, it helps us act quickly in response to danger. It also
pumps out cortisol, which you don’t feel the effects of until about an hour later.
Then it hits you: you’re ravenous. Why?
Well, after outrunning that metaphorical predator, your brain wants you to refuel
with the highest-calorie foods you can find (hello, brownie). The obvious problem
is that most of us are facing a deadline rather than a deadly beast, so we don’t
actually need that extra fuel. And chances are, our stress levels are spiking not
just once in a while, but every day.
As a result, over the long haul chronic stress encourages the body to store fat –
especially on our stomachs – rather than burn it. At the same time, high levels of
cortisol slow the production of testosterone, which helps build and maintain
muscle mass. Lose muscle, and your metabolism slows too.
The Perfect Storm
Then there’s the sleep factor: when you’re stressed, you sleep poorly, and
research shows that lack of sleep increases your levels of cortisol, which makes
you feel even more stressed – it’s a vicious cycle. The optimum amount of shut-
eye? According to experts, we need seven to eight hours a night.
“The combination of stress hormones, not enough sleep and comfort eating
creates the perfect storm for weight gain and then for difficulty getting it off,” says
psychologist Jo Lamble.
“Stress can also come from setting unrealistic expectations about weight loss.
Putting enormous pressures on yourself or depriving yourself of everything you
used to enjoy can create extra stress,” she adds.
Reduce Your Stress
So, other than hitting the hay, what can you do to reduce stress on an ongoing
basis? If you’re exercising, you’re on the right track – staying active helps. Next,
cut back on caffeine: research shows that two to three cups of coffee when
you’re already stressed raises cortisol levels by 25 percent.
Also, spend time with people you love, says Lamble, or (even better) hang out
with your pet – in one study, people with pets had lower stress levels than non-
pet-owners and also showed improved task performance. And in another study,
people who had their pets with them while conducting a difficult task were less
stressed than when they had their spouse or close friend with them!
Stress-relieving pastimes can help too. “Consider taking yoga classes, and tap
into your creative side – whether by painting, drawing, writing or crafting,” Lamble
suggests. To get a good night’s sleep, develop a ‘before-bed’ routine, including
things like switching off electronic devices, drinking a cup of herbal tea and
reading. “And anchor your wake-up time – getting up at the same time every
morning helps,” says Lamble.
Healthy Alternatives
But what about when you’re in the midst of a serious stress-out? If you find yourself
with a regular craving for mac-and-cheese, “Develop healthy ways to combat comfort
eating: go for a walk, have a bath, meet a friend or have a manicure,” Lamble suggests.
If you’re still on edge and the problem doesn’t seem to be easing, talk to your GP
or head to BeyondBlue (beyondblue.org.au) for help with working out if you’re
actually suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder – three million
Australians are, so you wouldn’t be alone.
If you put some effective strategies in place, you’ll soon discover what your most
effective stress-buster is. Our favourite here at 12WBT? A kick-ass boxing class!
Join 12WBT for boxing classes, mindset coaching with Michelle, and more.
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