Stress Swamp! Weight Gain?

Stress Swamp! Weight gain?

It’s the first day of the week, lots to do but already late, rushed towards office but stuck in traffic. Suddenly my phone rang; it’s my daughter, demanding her birthday gift. She was worried about her birthday celebration and I’m about her school fees, Credit-card bills are increasing as well as the lists of worries are mounting day by day. Stress is the way of life regardless of the reason.

How our body reacts to stress

The immediate response to acute stress can be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more we are coming to recognize that for some people, chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite. “Stress-induced weight gain"- says Elissa Epel (PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco). Yes there is connection between our brains to body. When we are stressed out our body activates a series of hormones such as adrenalin, corticotrophin releasing hormone and cortisol.

High levels of adrenalin & corticotrophin releasing hormone decrease appetite at first, the effects usually don't last long. And cortisol helps us replenish our body after the stress has passed, and it hangs around a lot longer. "It can remain elevated, increasing your appetite and ultimately driving you to eat more,"

Stress is also a good reason for sleepless night, when you burn your midnight lamp you won’t notice you burning yourself from inside. Lack of sleep will raise the level of hormone called Ghrelin which tells you when to eat and lower the level of hormone called Leptin which tells you when to stop eating. This leads to overeating.

I am not telling stress is bad, according to experts; stress is a burst of energy that basically advises you on what to do. In small doses, stress has many advantages. For instance, stress can help you meet daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals. In fact, stress can help you accomplish tasks more efficiently. It can even boost memory. But we need to learn handling it.

Note:

• Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or food to help against stress
• Say no, to the things that would add more stress to your life
• Share your feelings, opinions, or beliefs, instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive
• Give some time for hobbies and interests
• Spend time with people you love
• Try to divert your mind by listening to music or going for a long walk
• Don't let stress devour your life