Top Ways to Prevent Stress-induced Weight Gain

Stress might come out any time. It could happen at your workplace where tons of paperwork piled up in front of your desk needs to be done before the deadline or at home where conflicts arise between siblings. The presence of existing medical disorders and constant changes in the climate may contribute to stress as well. In spite of the cause, stress becomes a part of our daily lives. For some individuals, the effects of stress go beyond feelings of uneasiness and anxiety. As a result, they engage in comforting themselves to ease the stress – by eating voraciously.

You

may find it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits when you are under stress. Also, you may attempt to eat more to fulfill emotional needs during stressful times, and most likely you will engage in eating high-calorie foods even when you are not starving. This situation is called stress eating. Stress eating is caused by a particular hormone in our body, called cortisol, which greatly contributes to weight gain. Levels of cortisol tend to increase when we are under stress. As a result, you start to crave unhealthy foods. No wonder you found yourself food in the kitchen at midnight for a snack, or unconsciously chomping junk foods when you are stressed, even though you are not that hungry.

To overcome weight problems and eliminate the risk of obesity during stressful periods, you need to control your stress. You may find it easier to work on healthy eating and exercise routines if you are stress-free and in control of your emotions. Here are some of the stress management techniques for you to use to prevent stress-related weight gain:

Practice Different Relaxation Techniques

You can remove stress in your system through the regular practice of different relaxation techniques. Working on it can trigger the relaxation response in the brain, which eventually stops the flow of changes that occur when you are under stress, including one that contributes to weight gain. These relaxation techniques include yoga, writing, martial arts, walking, laughter, deep breathing exercises, and even sex.

Engage In An Active Lifestyle

Be physically active; go exercise, attend aerobics and gym classes, play physical sports like soccer and basketball. Doing such activities also eliminates stress and counteracts your weight gain through burning excess pounds.

Eat On Time – Don’t Skip Meals

Eating meals on time keeps the blood sugar levels within normal levels, lessening the workload of insulin production and eventually reducing cortisol levels, making it control your weight and appetite.

Provide Time For Rest And Sleep

Keeping you awake even when tired increases your cortisol levels making you look for food to eat. Sleeping will make you relax also, so don’t deprive yourself of sleep.

Trying these stress management techniques will not cost you that much. If it seems not to work on you, consider inquiring professional help through counseling and psychotherapy. They will help you overcome your stress-eating problems.