How To Deal With Stress Related Fat
October 26, 2009
You start eating a lot under stress or tension. This happens because we respond to stress in the same way. When you are under stress your brain behaves as you have come under some physical threat and tell your cells to set free powerful hormones.
The adrenaline rush you get where your body uses the energy to fight or run off. Your cortisol level rises which instructs you to refill the energy levels; though you have not utilised many calories in a stressed condition. This leads to a lot of hunger. Your cortisol keeps on rising and it keeps on making you hungry.
This would lead to lowering the muscle mass in your body and you would be burning lesser number of calories. Cortisol will rise the amount of fat which is stored in your body (particularly visceral fats) this fat is especially risky as it surrounds fundamental organs which give out fat acids in your blood, this would raise the amount of cholesterol as well as insulin level in your body, this would increase risk of diabetes and cardiac disease. The best option is you get rid of anxiety and stress. You can take the following steps to reduce the amount of stress in your body.
Try and become more active, take up a more active lifestyle. When you raise the amount of activity your brain would signal you that you are out of the stress zone. Workout would make the speed of your blood circulation rise, where it takes cortisol to the kidneys and finally taking it out from your body. Even if you walk for 18 minutes for 3 times a week you would lower your cortisol up to 15%.
Bigger portion will add to the amount of ab fat, you should try to eat slowly and enjoy your meal, this way you eat lesser, and the distribution of fat would be equal and not cumulated on your belly.
Do not take up any crash/fad diet where you have to skip meals or particular food group. This would make you cranky and would raise the level of stress in your body.
If you have craving for chocolate or something salty, then have the same in a small portion. If you keep yourself away from these indulgences your stress levels would heighten.
Stay away from caffeine and caffeinated products as when you mix caffeine with high stress levels you would be augmenting your cortisol levels in your body.
Have a nice, hearty and healthy breakfast, full of vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium, which would help you reduce cortisol level and keep your energy levels high.
Take good amount of sleep and sleep in the night hours, this would help you handle stress and in return stressed eating.
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