The Role of Stress and Weight Loss - Conquering StressThere is a definite adverse relationship between stress and weight loss. There is also a negative relationship between stress and weight gain. Logically, if you’re having trouble losing weight or have gained weight the relationship between stress and dieting must be considered. Stress has become so much a part of life there is even a non-profit organization in the United States call the American Institute of Stress (www.stress.org). It was established in 1978 to look at the role stress plays in health and illness. (Wouldn’t you think the mere study of stress would produce more of it?) Let’s look briefly at the kinds of stress that may be causing a weight gain or preventing you from losing weight. Psychological StressFew amongst us can claim a stress free life; a life free of the concerns of money, work, family, community and society. We are bombarded daily by thousands of outside impressions all demanding on personal resources and all stressing those resources. Studies have shown clearly that psychological stress does, in fact, lower immune function. Anything that lowers your immune function is dangerous. If it can affect your immune function, it’s easy to conclude a relationship between stress and weight loss.Physical StressDesigned to function on a pristine planet (one that no longer exists), our bodies are expected to function properly in a toxic soup.
As our physical body produces energy to move our muscles, we release tiny molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules lacking an electron. They seek out and steal an electron from the closest healthy molecule damaging it AND turning it into a free radical. A cascading effect is usually prevented by antioxidants from natural food sources. With the contribution of environmental toxins, the lack of nutritional value in our food we are less able to defend the onslaught of free radicals. Our bodies’ normal mechanism to cope with physical stress is challenged by the lack of antioxidants. The environment, our nutrition-challenged food supply, and the lack of activity all add up to stress in our bodies. Our body was designed to handle a certain level but the constant overload creates inadequacies that our body was not built for. The result is fatigue, poor memory and clarity of thought, trouble losing weight, illness, disease and premature death. Stress also can cause you to seek a very quick solution or an easy distraction. Often reacting with a bolt to the refrigerator as an immediate answer or solution to quickly satisfy the need at hand. Combine stress and weight loss, dieting attempts often result in poor choices. Stress can induce emotional eating. Conquering StressThe key to reducing stress, especially stress and dieting, is to prevent it. Getting enough sleep, eating a proper diet, avoiding excess caffeine and other stimulants and taking time out to relax may be helpful in this regard.Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. There are some stresses like the loss of a loved one that you can't hope to avoid and others that you can prevent or influence. The trick is in learning how to distinguish between the two so that you're not constantly frustrated. Follow the advice in Reinhold Niebuhr's, Serenity Prayer, "Grant me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Solutions to reducing stress:
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