Author: David Stache
As a society of time-poor individuals, we accept that most of our lives are under high-stress. However, while we know how stress can make us feel and act, we often ignore the long-term detrimental impact of stress on our body and physical health. Not only can stress contribute to sleep deprivation, digestive problems, anxiety, and illnesses, but it can also lead to unprecedented weight gain.
SKIPPING MEALS
When managing multiple tasks with an ever-increasing workload, eating a healthy and nutritious meal can easily slip down your list of priorities. While skipping meals might make you feel like you are saving time, all you are doing is delaying the inevitable and will be hit by cravings later in the day. These cravings will make you more inclined to snack on high-calorie sugary snacks that do not fill you up. To avoid falling into this trap, ensure you keep healthier comfort foods around you, such as fruit or vegetable sticks, to carry you through to your next meal. You could also try taking an all-natural weight management supplement, such as Instant Knockout Cut (RRP $35 for 120 capsules), which combines essential fat-burning and performance-enhancing ingredients to speed up metabolism, reduce hunger cravings, and increase energy levels.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Sleep can be tough during stressful periods as you have myriad thoughts running through your mind. While you might get a few hours of shut-eye, the quality of your sleep will likely be reduced, and you will still wake up feeling exhausted. Not only does sleep deprivation lead to slow metabolism, but it can also make you more inclined to skip your workouts and reach for high-sugar snacks to give you energy. If your stress levels impact your sleep, try breathing techniques and meditation before bed to help clear your mind of daily stress. This will significantly improve your quality of sleep.
EMOTIONALLY EATING
After a stressful day at work, no one has ever craved a salad. When emotions get the better of us, our go-to comfort foods are rarely healthy, nutrient-dense options and can easily lead to overconsumption as you are mindlessly eating. While this temporary relief from stress may seem like a good idea, it will likely lead to weight gain if it’s a common occurrence. Take a mindful approach to eating; a little of what you fancy isn’t bad, but ultimately, it’s essential to be aware that your food choices, when stressed, may be causing you more stress and unhappiness if you are putting on weight.
CORTISOL
Hormones are funny – we know they’re there, and we know they have huge power over us, but we don’t know what directly affects them. Stress has a huge impact on hormones, leading to cortisol released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. This is a fundamental problem as it increases your appetite, making you reach for comfort foods often high in calories. Not only that, when cortisol is elevated, you are more likely to store those overconsumed calories as fat due to our bodies metabolizing them at a slower rate and an increase in insulin, the storage hormone.
GUT HEALTH
Stress and the gut are closely linked, with the gut-brain axis firmly established. As stress levels increase, you will often experience higher levels of bad bacteria in the gut, which can lead to digestive troubles. In turn, the increase in bad bacteria has been shown to lead to increased anxiety and elevated stress response, causing a vicious cycle between gut health and managing stress. To combat this, try eating various foods and plenty of fiber to keep a diverse and healthy microbiome.
David Stache has 15 years of experience working with elite athletes and people who want to get the most out of their bodies, using the power of nutrition and exercise. His clients have included boxers Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders, Nicola Adams, Josh Taylor, Jamie McDonnell, Kid Galahad, and British Hammer Champion Jess Mayho. David’s goal is always to deliver results for those wanting to develop and realize their potential.
Now you’ve explored the correlation between weight gain and stress, keep momentum by delving into the theory behind Winning The Weight Loss Mindset.
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Now you’ve explored the correlation between weight gain and stress, keep momentum by delving into the theory behind Winning The Weight Loss Mindset
