Parties, Stress And Your Waistline

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

Tips and Foods To Increase Metabolism

Wouldn't it be great if you could burn more calories when you're just sitting on the couch? You can -- by increasing your metabolism , the rate at which your body uses energy. Here are some simple changes you can make to help speed up your metabolism and help with quick weight loss.

Tip #1 -- Eat breakfast.

Breakfast gets you increase your metabolism by putting it back into burning mode. But if you wait until lunch to eat, your body assumes you're fasting and responds by slowing your metabolism. And remember, if you eat breakfast, you have a greater chance of burning calories (by running, for instance!) since you're consuming them early in the day. My breakfast is Ezekiel Cereal with Kefir.

I always add some fresh fruit or berries. Every single morning for already 25 years I take health supplements.

My biological age states 30 even my chronological is 46 - its something to with health supplements :). Read "My Anti aging Bible."

Tip #2 -- Drink Green Tea.

Green tea has been shown to boost metabolism. Researchers believe that antioxidants in green tea can cause the body to waste calories as heat, which increases caloric burning and increase your metabolism.

 

Tip #3 -- Eat frequently/ Don't Skip Meals.

Our bodies have a built-in survival mechanism to conserve calories when we go for a long period of time without eating. So, when you skip meals, your body slows your metabolism to prevent you from starving. To avoid this, try to eat five to six small meals each day, or three meals and some healthy snacks in between.

 

Tip #4 - Eat more lean protein.

A recent Dutch study found that consuming a third of your daily calories from protein can increase metabolism. So, incorporate in your daily meals those foods that speed up metabolism. Our bodies have to work hard to digest the foods we eat, and your metabolism boosts in response. Of course, don't take that to mean that you should switch to a high-protein diet, since carbs are the main source of energy for runners. But try to incorporate lean protein into most meals. Add soy - the only complete vegetal protein.

Tip #5 -- Eat more raw foods.

Raw living foods are rich in enzymes. These enzymes are essential for every single metabolic reaction in your body. The more enzymes you can acquire from food, the less stress you impose on your digestive system, the more energy you'll feel, and the more you increase your metabolic fat-burning engine!

Tip #6 -- Build Lean Body Mass.

The more lean muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn, even while resting. As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, so it's important to work at building it. Even doing resistance or weight training just twice a week can make a big difference. And, ladies, don't worry -- regular strength training will make you look toned, not bulked-up.

Tip #7 -- Move as much as possible.

Research from the Mayo Clinic shows that people who fidget and move around a lot, even if they don't formally exercise, have more active metabolisms and burn more calories than nonfidgeters. If you have a desk job, do leg lifts as you sit at your desk or take frequent breaks to walk around.

Tip #8 -- Get enough sleep.

Inadequate sleep may affect your weight -- not only because you'll be too tired to exercise but also because tiredness may lead to snacking as a "pick-me-up." Sleepless? Relax- with calming music.