Does Stress Make You Fat??

There are numerous ways stress does in fact contribute to weight gain. When we are under stress our body triggers the fight or flight response releasing various hormones. The fight or flight response gives us a burst of energy to prepare us to run or fight, shifting the metabolism and blood flow. If our bodies remain in this state for an extended period of time, chronic stress, your health becomes at risk. Chronic stress can also cause weight gain due to cortisol. Below are several ways chronic stress and cortisol contribute to weight gain:
1. Metabolismà Too much cortisol slows your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience, even when you are eating the same foods.
2. Cravingsà People experiencing chronic stress crave fatty, salty, and sugary foods. These processed foods and sweets lead to increased weight gain.
3. Blood Sugarà extended stress can alter blood sugar levels resulting in mood swings, fatigue, and hyperglycemia. Too much stress can lead to heart attacks and diabetes.
4. Fat Storageà Stress affects where we tend to store fat. High levels of stress are linked to greater amounts of abdominal fat.
5. Emotional Eatingà Increased cortisol levels can make you crave unhealthy food and eat more than normally due to nervous energy.
6. Fast Foodà Stress due to busy lifestyles often force people to depend on fast food and take out instead of creating the time to make dinner.
7. Too busy to Exerciseà American’s live more sedentary lifestyle today than in the past. A lot of people working long hour days (often at a desk) and come home exhausted. Exercise is often overlooked, but is extremely important in reducing stress.

Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress:
1. Journaling
2. Exercise
3. Yoga
4. Breathing Techniques
5. Mediation
6. Humor and Stress Release