Why Stress Impacts The Scale
Historically, stressful situations were mainly due to physical problems and required a lot of energy to solve. Nowadays, stressors are primarily psychological and typically don’t require that much energy. When you’re stressed, hormones like cortisol make you crave sugar in order to replenish your energy supply. The problem is, if you didn’t actually do any physical activity, then your cravings will just make you gain belly fat, not energy.
How Food Affects Your Mood
Your diet can affect the way your body handles stress. Well-nourished brains are less reactive, calmer, more optimistic, and allow you to think more clearly. Eating foods high in “brain essential nutrients” like vitamin E, zinc, and omega-3 fats can lower inflammation and reduce anxiety. Studies also link fruit and vegetable consumption to lower levels of stress. You could even try eating more fiber to encourage a healthy gut biome.
Overall, as long as you eat a healthy diet with all of the “brain essential nutrients” listed above, it will go a long way towards preventing stress-induced weight gain.
Stop The Stress Cycle + Weight Gain
Sleep
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body may respond severely to external stressors. A lack of sleep also slows metabolism and increases your appetite. You should try to stick to a consistent bedtime when possible and avoid using electronics right before bed.
Exercise (Just Not Too Much)
Physical activity has been shown to both reduce stress levels and boost your overall health. It can help you address both your stress and weight gain head-on with the same solution. Whether it’s going on a walk with your dog or going to the gym after work, any level of physical can help.
When you’re under a lot of pressure, though, excessive or high-intensity exercise can be an additional stressor. So if you love high-intensity, work some lower intensity activities into your routines, such as walking or yoga, so you don’t stress yourself out even more.
Keep A Food Journal
Paying attention to what you eat can help you gain control over your diet and prevent any unnecessary weight gain. Monitoring food intake for a period of time has been proven to help people who tend to gain weight from stress better manage their diet and learn more about what works best for them.
Cultivate Mindfulness
Certain activities, such as yoga, meditation, and reading, have been proven to lower stress and improve health. While these simple stress relievers can seem unimportant, they actually go a long way, especially if your stress is constant or recurring. Incorporating these calming activities into your daily routine will help you remain consistent, even if your anxiety gets high.
If your stress gets too unmanageable levels and these tips are no longer helping, it’s important to consult a medical professional. It’s essential to make sure that not only your body is healthy, but your mind too.
Dr. Grimes has got you covered whenever you have a health question you need to be answered or a problem that needs to be treated. Become a member of our wellness platform to adopt healthy changes and improve your quality of life today!