Can stress and psyche affect weight loss?

What could it be?

Are you eating healthy, trying to drink enough, sleeping enough... are you just an absolutely textbook example of a person who is trying to follow a healthy lifestyle and possibly lose some weight, but it just won't go away? So what could be the buried dog? The answer can be found in the most common problem in today's hectic world - stress. Mental stress is one of the most important factors in weight loss.

Information regarding weight loss is countless. How to play sports, how to eat, what and when to eat... but it doesn't matter what kind of mental state you are currently or in the long term. Yet stress has a huge impact not only on fat reduction, but also on overall health. Let's first talk about how such stress can arise, and what it actually is.

Stress is the body's reaction to an impending danger, simply put. The trigger can be pain, interpersonal relationships, and perhaps the biggest stumbling block - a killer work pace. It can be short-term, which in turn is often beneficial because it improves physical and mental conditions, such as memory or thinking.

This kind is not the main culprit of your higher weight. On the contrary, it causes a tightening of the stomach and the typical lack of appetite.The opposite is long-term stress, or chronic stress, which is caused by overload, which activates the defence mechanisms and leads to an imbalance. The result is frequent depression and anxiety, which can slow metabolism, leading to fat storage and subsequent obesity.

Long-term stress lowers our immune system and, among other things, has a negative impact on our digestion, as our digestive tract is sensitive to changes in our psyche. When stressed, the body needs more energy, which it draws mainly from simple sugars and fatty foods (I doubt that you lovingly indulge in munching on carrots or broccoli during stressful times).

The influence of hormones

During stress, more of the hormone cortisol is released, which in the short term stimulates the breakdown of carbohydrates and the conversion of fat into energy. The more cortisol we flush out, the more we will be plagued by insurmountable cravings and nightly raids on the fridge. As a consequence, we will store fat, especially around the at-risk tummy area, slowing down our metabolism or raising blood pressure.

The stress response also prompts the production of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. Increases in these two hormones lead us to unwanted weight gain, poorer sleep and a greater incidence of depression. But nothing is lost. Stress can be eliminated and prevented quite well.First and foremost, try to have more perspective on things and be able to distinguish the essential, important tasks over the less essential ones.

Your "to do list" does not have to be as long as a novel. It's great to be productive, but do everything in moderation, and always schedule only the amount of tasks you can realistically handleon a given day.Also, stop overthinking and stressing about things you simply have short fingers for. Try to think positively, relax, meditate and try to vent your stress through sport.