Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions remain my own. You can learn more about our editorial policies here.
How many calories a day does anxiety consume? As ludicrous as this question may sound, the answer is nearly always yes when you ask someone if stress might slow down weight loss.
This fast-paced world is rife with stressors. Relationships, finances, and work stress are all common triggers, making it difficult to focus on exercise and weight loss. In addition, the body’s physiological reactions to stress might stall weight loss. Understanding how stress affects the body and recognizing stress triggers might help you avoid gaining weight.
This Is How Science Works
Adrenal responses are elicited in the body as a result of stressful situations. The fight-or-flight reaction is the name given to this type of response. As a rapid source of energy, the liver and muscle tissue utilize glycogen stored there. When a tiger attacked a caveman, this method of absorbing energy was extremely effective. This surge of energy was employed by cavemen to either flee or fight. Modern man is similarly wired, yet the stressors that afflict modern life don’t necessitate fleeing or fighting. The University of New Mexico reported in 2005 that this stress reaction can lead to muscle mass loss, increased fat storage, and overeating tendencies.
Chronic stress releases cortisol, which might make weight reduction more difficult. Because muscle burns calories just to exist, high quantities of this hormone impede metabolism. Additionally, the excess production of cortisol causes the body to store fat mostly in the abdomen area for future usage. The National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service says that high blood glucose, high blood pressure, and exhaustion are other indicators of excessive cortisol levels.
Workers with chronic work stress have a metabolic syndrome risk that is more than twice as high as that of their non-stressed counterparts, according to a British Medical Journal research published in March of that year. As a set of risk factors, metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of stroke and Type II diabetes. Additionally, the study found evidence of a relationship between stress and cardiac disease.
Cravings for food
Food cravings and overeating, which are commonly dismissed as stress-related behaviors, have a scientific basis. Adrenaline and cortisol are released by the body in response to stressful conditions, causing a variety of hormonal changes. In the aftermath of a stressful experience, the release of cortisol results in an increase in hunger. These cravings can lead to weight gain as a result of a high level of cortisol release in the body in the presence of persistent stress. Try to replace stress foods with superfoods to combat this issue.
Prevention
It may seem hard to live a stress-free existence, but by incorporating a few simple strategies into your daily routine, you may do just that. The first step is to identify the stressors in your life. Finding the source of your stress will help you better understand how to deal with the issue. Make time for meditation or deep breathing exercises to bring your body back to a calmer condition if work is the source of your stress. In addition, establish time for physical activity in your schedule. Regular exercise can help to reduce sadness and improve sleep, both of which are important for lowering cortisol levels and preventing weight gain. Excessive cardio (running) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) might amplify feelings of stress. You can offset the effects of stress by engaging in resistance strength exercise, which releases feel-good chemicals.
Please join us at Ultimate City Fitness’ upcoming lecture to learn more about this topic. Fat loss, stress reduction, and energy optimisation will all be covered in the session. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit this page. Taking the time to understand more is highly recommended.
