You can have literally nothing on your plate but if stress is on your mind, shedding extra fat can become quite difficult – and it’s really not an exaggeration because chronic stress can make weight loss an uphill task! Losing weight can be quite challenging and if you are chronically under stress, then it’s going to be a tad bit more difficult for you. There are numerous studies that have found a strong link between chronic stress and obesity – not only can it make losing weight difficult, it can make weight gain easy. Apart from lowering metabolism, the stress hormone “cortisol” increases appetite and cravings for sugary and high-calorie food. Too much stress can trigger “emotional eating,” where you turn to food to feel better, to calm jittery nerves, or to fight boredom. Remember how indulging in a tub of ice cream can instantly make you feel so much better! The problem is the kind of food we resort to during stressful situations can become addictive and we may seek them out too often, leading to rapid weight gain. It also facilitates build-up of fat around the waist area. That’s why it becomes important to beat stress to successfully lose weight. But how to tell if stress is causing your weight gain, rather than other contributing factors? Let’s find out:
1. Increased Cravings For Sweet, High-Fat, and Salty Foods:
When individuals experience stress, it frequently triggers emotional responses that lead to seeking comfort in food, and this behavior is called “emotional eating.” During stressful situations, people often turn to foods that are high in sugar, fat, and calories, seeking temporary relief from their emotional discomfort. These food choices, often referred to as “comfort foods,”(most of the times, it’s chips, chocolate, candies, junk food, and ice cream), might provide momentary pleasure, but they are typically nutritionally poor. Consuming foods high in sugars and unhealthy fats not only leads to a surplus of calories but also lacks essential nutrients, and to replenish nutrients, the body sends out hunger signals more frequently. This imbalance results in weight gain over time, as the excess calories are stored as fat in the body. Also read: “10 Every Day Foods with High Amount of Sugar.”
2. Frequent Awakenings During The Night:
Stress can cause frequent awakenings during the night. People under stress may wake up multiple times during their sleep cycle, disrupting the continuity of sleep. These awakenings might be accompanied by racing thoughts, making it hard to go back to sleep. Stress keeps the brain in a state of hyperarousal, making it challenging to quiet the mind, which is necessary to slip into deep sleep. Also read: “What Exactly Not To Do When Trying to Lose Weight.”
3. Slows Down Metabolism:
Ever wondered how your lean friend eats the same kind and amount of food as you, but stays lean, meanwhile you gain weight? It might be due to her robust metabolism and your sluggish metabolism. Cortisol, a hormone which is released during stressful situations, triggers the “fight-or-flight” response in the body. This hormone then temporarily suppresses non-essential physiological processes, such as metabolism, while enhancing vital functions that are necessary for immediate survival. So, if you are always stressed, the body will continue to keep your metabolism slow and sluggish.
4. Hormonal Imbalances and Disruption of Menstural Cycle:
There are studies that show that in chronic stress, there is suppression of circulating gonadotropins and gonadal steroid hormones, which causes disruption in menstrual cycle, and that would mean delayed periods, irregular periods or absence of periods. High cortisol also lowers estrogen, and low estrogen can cause fatigue, irregular periods, and weight gain.
5. No Energy To Exercise/Workout:
Stress can drain you out completely and leave with no motivation or energy to exercise. Regular exercise is crucial to get calories burning and to maintain a healthy metabolism, and lack of physical activity would lead to weight gain.
Overall, the Rati Beauty diet not only offers fantastic diet plans but also emphasizes the power of lifestyle changes (that means ways to beat stress), for successful weight loss! Ready to embrace a healthier lifestyle with Rati Beauty’s expert guidance! Subscribe to the Rati Beauty app to access all our diet plans.
What Exactly Not To Do When Trying to Lose Weight
10 Every Day Foods with High Amount of Sugar
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