Stressed Out

2012Kristin

Does it seem to anyone else that their Stress level has an impact on their weight loss? Do you tend to lose more or less?

jbahrami

I was JUST thinking the same thing! I tend to gain more when I'm stressed...for one, I'm an emotional eater and tend to gravitate towards the snacks to help calm me down (or at least, I used to!). Second, I believe your metabolism slows down when you're under stress. I try to grab a glass of water when I feel like that...it helps with the calming factor as well as flush you out.

GouchisGirl

Sadly it is proven that stress DOES affect weight loss. You would think it would make you lose more weight, but it is shown that it slows metabolism down.

margurithrt

It depends on how you handle the stress. For some people, they turn to food as a comfort to help them deal with it, so they gain weight. For others, they stop eating for a wide variety of reasons (perceived lack of time to eat, lack of hunger/desire to eat, etc). It ultimately depends on how you've handled stress in the past and whether you can use the opportunity to change those cycles.

Rikki444

I have been feeling AnXIouS and I lose my desire to eat. It's like getting the flu.... I'll lose a few pounds and as soon as the brick in my stomach goes away and I eat normal again, I regain those few pounds. I don't even count them.

kantone999

Stress DOES affect weight. Elevated blood cortisol levels (cortisol is the so-called stress hormone) is, along with genetics, largely responsible for the spare tire effect. Cortisol tells your body "hey, we're threatened. Carbo-load to get ready to run (or fight)." We gobble carbs and pretty soon we've taken in a calorie surplus.

STRENUOUS exercise reduces cortisol. Caffeine also stimulates the production of cortisol so watch the cokes, coffee and tea if you have high blood cortisol.

KyleB65

Interesting question.

I used to deal with stress by eating. Usually anything I could get my hands on! Mostly things like McD's, chips, dip, coke etc., etc.

Now my stress relief is a trip to the gym. A few rounds of skipping or a few rounds hitting a heavy bag reduces most of my stress and being healthier is allowing me to deal with the rest.

Although I still love to eat. Food is no longer my security blanket when I am feeling down.