You look great!
Do you believe it when you hear somebody saying it?
Unfortunately, you do not. No matter how many people tell you how good you look, you just don't believe them. You are anxious about your body image.
But good looks don't guarantee that you will have a good body image or that you will age more gracefully than others.
How to Stop Being Ashamed and Start Loving Your Body?
Parties have a very special place in our lives. So, is a food. Company parties, church gatherings and get togethers with friends all centers around food. How could you resist?
Food isn’t the only thing contributing to our weight gain however. There’s more.
Stress
Stress is everywhere. It is inevitable. Any change real or perceived causes stress response in our bodies.
I hate to tell you but there is a good chance all of party food settle around your waistline.
You see stress causes certain changes to occur in your body. When we are put in a stressful situation the brain releases a neurochemical called corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), which triggers the "fight or flight" response in the body.
It is a high alert signal for the body to prepare to fight or flee from upcoming danger. The pupils dilate respiration and heart rate increase. CRH causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, hormones which mobilize fat and carbohydrate stores into the blood stream for quick energy. During this stage, the appetite is suppressed and the digestive system is shut down. This is why many people under acute stress will say that they are too nervous to eat.
However, as the immediate stress dissipates, adrenaline levels drop and we begin to feel calmer. The cortisol levels remain elevated in order to bring the body back to a balanced state. One way it accomplishes this is by increasing the appetite to replenish fat and carbohydrates that should have been used to fight or flee the stressor.
So what happens if you aren't fighting or fleeing from anything? What happens when you stress comes from traffic jams, deadlines, trying to please everybody, financial worries, having a job or a boss you despise, trying to juggle family and career or a host of other modern day stressors?
This kind of prolonged stress will cause cortisol levels to stay elevated in turn keeping the appetite chronically elevated. These high levels of cortisol will also keep insulin levels high leading to the deposit of fat stores in the abdominal area.
Can you avoid all of the stress in your life? Of course not. If you are one of the millions however who are chronically stressed out or anxious you may need to learn some ways to "actively relax" in order to activate relaxation response.
Getting a massage, learning breathing exercises, meditation, listening to guided relaxation audios and making time to take walks and exercise can all be helpful.
Finding it difficult to do this on your own? Coaching helps…….
Related article
How to survive holidays without a weight gain
How the human heart is affected by anxiety
I am sure that you have heard about the important connection between mental and physical health or body/mind connection. But do you fully understand the relationship your organs have with your state of mind? Research is showing how physiological reactions to stress and anxiety can take a huge toll on our hearts.
When we experience symptoms of anxiety, what we feel is the body’s preparation to face danger. Elevated heart rate, high blood pressure and the release of stress hormones into the blood are normal reactions that occur in our bodies when faced with stressful situations and anxiety.
Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety can have a negative impact on the heart, including palpitations, tremors and insomnia. Whatever the cause for anxiety may be, there are steps we can take to improve our quality of life.
Take Action:
Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation to promote inner calm which will lessen symptoms of anxiety and promote cardiovascular health.
Exercise is another fundamental element in keeping our heart and mind healthy. People who suffer from anxiety often quit exercising because they find it overwhelming or they are simply physically and mentally exhausted. However, exercise is an excellent way of promoting relaxation, inner calm and decreasing feelings of anxiety.
Getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet is also important. Regular and sufficient sleep is essential for the proper functioning of all bodily systems. Aim for at least 8 hours every night. A balanced diet that mainly features wholesome fruits, vegetables, and lean meats will encourage restful sleep and systemic balance.
Certain medications and stimulants should also be avoided. Caffeinated beverages and over-the-counter diet pills often feature harsh stimulants that can worsen your symptoms. The same caution should be practiced with cough and cold medicines containing decongestants.
Try natural remedies for anxiety treatment.
Finally, put your mind to it. Your mood can make a huge difference on the frequency and severity anxiety symptoms you experience. As the Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “Man is not disturbed by events, but by the view he takes of them."
A holistic approach to healing recognizes that the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical elements of each person comprise a system that is greater than its individual parts. This approach attempts to treat the whole person, concentrating on the cause of the illness as well as symptoms.
Good news: you can help yourself back to heart health and balance.
Being sleep deprived can be both a cause and an effect of being stressed.
While stress can keep you up at night, operating on too few hours of sleep can make you less productive, more emotional, and more reactive to stressful events in your life.
Close to 90 percent of women and 70 percent of men experience tension headaches during their lifetimes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Tension headaches are commonly triggered by emotional factors, the most common of which is stress. Depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions can also trigger tension headaches. Fortunately, there are many natural options that can help to relieve tension headaches safely and effectively.
Take Action:
1. Keep to a regular exercise program. Aerobic exercise relieves stress, relaxes your muscles and also is known to help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. Further, exercise can sometimes help to relieve the pain of a headache that’s already there.
2. Manage your stress. Stress management is an essential component of headache relief.
3. Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can trigger headaches in some, so getting a good night’s sleep is essential.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle. “Behaviors that promote general good health also may help prevent headache,” according to the Mayo Clinic. These include things like regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding too much caffeine.
If you find you are having trouble sticking to a healthy lifestyle, try to release any underlying negative emotions standing in your way to stress-free and balanced life.
5. Relax your muscles. Muscle tension can trigger and worsen headaches, and there are a number of ways to relieve it. You can use a heating pad, a hot-water bottle or take a hot shower or bath if you find the warmth soothing. Alternatively, an ice pack wrapped in a washcloth can also be effective.
6. Try Indian Head Massage - this is an excellent option is massaging your head, neck and shoulders (or having someone do it for you).
7. Watch your posture. Poor posture can lead to muscle strain and tension. Be careful to hold your shoulders back and your head high when standing and sit with your things parallel to the ground and your head upright (not slumped forward).
8. Try essential oils. Ginger, peppermint and wintergreen essential oils may help relieve tension headaches when rubbed into your temples or inhaled via aromatherapy.
9. Detox your body. I suffered from very severe headaches years ago. After total cleanse things changed completely- my headaches just disappeared.
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Inese Millere