Is too much stress putting the brakes on your weight loss?
Your body holds onto fat to protect itself when you’re stressed.
Stress doesn’t happen just because of the latest deadline at work. It can be psychological, physical, and chemical.
Stress can be because of…
- Too little food
- Too much food
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Overtraining
- Not enough good quality sleep
- Not enough rest and recovery
- Injuries and illnesses
- Environmental factors (allergens, medications, chemicals)
- Emotional and mental factors (work, relationships, money, social situations)
To name a few!
Your body makes a hormone called cortisol in response to stress to give you a quick boost of energy. But if you have elevated stress levels then your body is continually making cortisol. Cortisol makes it harder for your body to use insulin; which is an anabolic hormone that is involved in fat metabolism. If your body isn’t using insulin properly then it stops your body from breaking down fat and tells it to store fat.
Chronic stress is linked to long-term fat storage and weight gain.
Signs that you’re overstressed:
- Not losing weight, no matter how hard you’re trying
- Training, but not seeing any performance improvements
- Sleeping poorly
- Poor digestion
- Sick often
- Low energy
Decreasing stress allows your body to adapt accordingly, let go of fat, and function with ease.
An optimal stress level not only supports a healthy weight with less fat, but more importantly leads to a body that feels good and a human that can thrive.
Once you start addressing your stress then you’ll start seeing the scale move. It can be more effective and easier than you think.
If this sounds like you, book a Weight Loss Coaching Consult to start reducing your stress so you can finally get the results you want.