How to Shed Weight Without Lifestyle Changes
Have you tried several different diets and failed? Maybe even tried some exercise only to find you lose some weight but it comes straight back again? Well, don't worry. There's a simple reason for that and in this article I'll explain why it happens, and how to combat it.
Stress it not just a mental reaction but a physical condition. When your body is placed under stress it will produce adrenaline but it also produces a hormone called Cortisol, and it is this hormone that is responsible for pumping energy in the form of sugar into the body to fuel the adrenalin rush. Stress is then a natural bodily function designed to help keep us alive and reactive to things going on in the world.
Unfortunately if you are not using this energy, there is then a negative by-product. Stress today is particularly associated with money worries, but can also be affected by issues in the office, family problems and much more. The extra blood sugar that is being released has nowhere to go except settle around your stomach to be used later - as fat.
Because of this many people are gaining or retaining weight without even realising it. Of course there are other factors, but stress is the one that very few people talk about. Stress however needs to be controlled and fought against in just the same way as an unhealthy needs to be. It may be the one factor stopping you from losing the pounds you so desperately want to.
Stress, combined with anxiety, is in fact a double edged sword. Not only does it produce the excess blood sugars that turn to fat but it also encourages you to use food as a comfort tool. You probably tuck into chocolate or fast food for that instant hit that is the eating equivalent of a warm hug from a friend or loved one.
Eating foods that are bad for you when you are stressed does not mean you are weak minded; you are just following your natural biological programming. Tests on rats have shown that under stress
organisms naturally engage in pleasure seeking behaviour - in particular high calorie food.
Other tests have shown that men who only manage to get four hours sleep a night have on average a thirty seven percent higher level of Cortisol (the hormone that is responsible for energy - sugar)
than those who get a full eight hours; and what is one of the biggest reasons for lack of sleep? Stress!
On top of that it is imperative you get a good nights sleep when trying to shed the pounds because a deep sleep leads to higher secretions of a natural occurring hormone called Human Growth
Hormone. This hormone protects your muscle mass that helps to maintain a steady burning metabolism. We're not talking bodybuilder type muscle here either; just the natural kind we all
have.
Of course if you are already stressed the chances are you are not getting enough sleep anyway and so are caught in a vicious circle that can be affecting your weight loss. Going to your doctors to ask
about prescriptive sleeping tablets are one option, but should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, not in place of one. Fortunately, despite stress being the silent diet killer, there are some easy ways to fight it.
Firstly with a little bit of exercise you can help yourself get a better night's sleep which kills two birds with one stone. A brisk walk every day is enough to allow your body to get to sleep
naturally at the end of the day.
A good breakfast is also associated with reduced stress levels. Skipping breakfast is just asking for trouble and will actually have a negative effect on your weight loss. Many people state they cannot, under any circumstances, eat breakfast but it is essential in order to fuel your energy resources. This will also manage your Cortisol levels. Cereal is especially good at this and as there are so many choices available, is quite an easy option for those not usually eating breakfast.
Fish, although not to everyone's liking, is another food that should be added to your diet to reduce stress and therefore help weight loss. Oily fish particularly are high in Omega 3. A tin of
boneless sardines costs little and is delicious on toast. This one item alone contains a weeks worth of Omega 3 which is great for your diet plan. If the thought of sardines does not appeal, there are several other choices of oily fish so do not overlook this important ingredient.
Finally, learn to accept stress and use it - in other words make stress work for you, instead of against you. We all need a little stress to keep us on our toes and in this day and age it is everywhere. The trick is to put things into perspective and ask yourself "Are things really that bad?". There are sick children and sadness across the world and often we let every day things stress us out needlessly. Remember, combating stress with a healthy diet could just be the miracle weight loss plan you've been looking for. Try to block out negative thoughts and concentrate on the positive; combine this with a healthy diet and lifestyle, and you should start to see some beneficial results from your weight loss program.
Stress it not just a mental reaction but a physical condition. When your body is placed under stress it will produce adrenaline but it also produces a hormone called Cortisol, and it is this hormone that is responsible for pumping energy in the form of sugar into the body to fuel the adrenalin rush. Stress is then a natural bodily function designed to help keep us alive and reactive to things going on in the world.
Unfortunately if you are not using this energy, there is then a negative by-product. Stress today is particularly associated with money worries, but can also be affected by issues in the office, family problems and much more. The extra blood sugar that is being released has nowhere to go except settle around your stomach to be used later - as fat.
Because of this many people are gaining or retaining weight without even realising it. Of course there are other factors, but stress is the one that very few people talk about. Stress however needs to be controlled and fought against in just the same way as an unhealthy needs to be. It may be the one factor stopping you from losing the pounds you so desperately want to.
Stress, combined with anxiety, is in fact a double edged sword. Not only does it produce the excess blood sugars that turn to fat but it also encourages you to use food as a comfort tool. You probably tuck into chocolate or fast food for that instant hit that is the eating equivalent of a warm hug from a friend or loved one.
Eating foods that are bad for you when you are stressed does not mean you are weak minded; you are just following your natural biological programming. Tests on rats have shown that under stress
organisms naturally engage in pleasure seeking behaviour - in particular high calorie food.
Other tests have shown that men who only manage to get four hours sleep a night have on average a thirty seven percent higher level of Cortisol (the hormone that is responsible for energy - sugar)
than those who get a full eight hours; and what is one of the biggest reasons for lack of sleep? Stress!
On top of that it is imperative you get a good nights sleep when trying to shed the pounds because a deep sleep leads to higher secretions of a natural occurring hormone called Human Growth
Hormone. This hormone protects your muscle mass that helps to maintain a steady burning metabolism. We're not talking bodybuilder type muscle here either; just the natural kind we all
have.
Of course if you are already stressed the chances are you are not getting enough sleep anyway and so are caught in a vicious circle that can be affecting your weight loss. Going to your doctors to ask
about prescriptive sleeping tablets are one option, but should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, not in place of one. Fortunately, despite stress being the silent diet killer, there are some easy ways to fight it.
Firstly with a little bit of exercise you can help yourself get a better night's sleep which kills two birds with one stone. A brisk walk every day is enough to allow your body to get to sleep
naturally at the end of the day.
A good breakfast is also associated with reduced stress levels. Skipping breakfast is just asking for trouble and will actually have a negative effect on your weight loss. Many people state they cannot, under any circumstances, eat breakfast but it is essential in order to fuel your energy resources. This will also manage your Cortisol levels. Cereal is especially good at this and as there are so many choices available, is quite an easy option for those not usually eating breakfast.
Fish, although not to everyone's liking, is another food that should be added to your diet to reduce stress and therefore help weight loss. Oily fish particularly are high in Omega 3. A tin of
boneless sardines costs little and is delicious on toast. This one item alone contains a weeks worth of Omega 3 which is great for your diet plan. If the thought of sardines does not appeal, there are several other choices of oily fish so do not overlook this important ingredient.
Finally, learn to accept stress and use it - in other words make stress work for you, instead of against you. We all need a little stress to keep us on our toes and in this day and age it is everywhere. The trick is to put things into perspective and ask yourself "Are things really that bad?". There are sick children and sadness across the world and often we let every day things stress us out needlessly. Remember, combating stress with a healthy diet could just be the miracle weight loss plan you've been looking for. Try to block out negative thoughts and concentrate on the positive; combine this with a healthy diet and lifestyle, and you should start to see some beneficial results from your weight loss program.
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