Stress affecting weight loss???

newbride0312
newbride0312 Posts: 13 Member
edited October 5 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone. I'm new here, have been using the calorie counter on my phone for a few days. My husband and I are eating well balanced healthy meals (roughly 300 calories x 4-5 meals daily). This has been roughly 2 weeks now. He is quickly loosing inches and pounds. I'm really not feeling like I am loosing much of anything.

I know it's a bit early to expect huge drops in weight loss but....
Has anyone experienced that stress prevents some of the weight from falling off? The last few weeks I have been severly stressing (all job related -erg). Advice???

Replies

  • bigdawg025
    bigdawg025 Posts: 774 Member
    I tend to lose more weight when I'm stressed... so I don't know.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Hi everyone. I'm new here, have been using the calorie counter on my phone for a few days. My husband and I are eating well balanced healthy meals (roughly 300 calories x 4-5 meals daily). This has been roughly 2 weeks now. He is quickly loosing inches and pounds. I'm really not feeling like I am loosing much of anything.

    I know it's a bit early to expect huge drops in weight loss but....
    Has anyone experienced that stress prevents some of the weight from falling off? The last few weeks I have been severly stressing (all job related -erg). Advice???

    while stress does play a part in weight loss, the most likely culprit in the difference in weight loss is water retention. Woman tend to be more susceptible to it than men. Also if you are both eating roughly the same cals there'd be a difference as well, as i doubt you both have the same TDEEs
  • seeled
    seeled Posts: 93
    I gain when I am stressed. No matter how little I eat or how much I exercise, I seem to gain when I am stressed.
  • Whatamilike
    Whatamilike Posts: 51
    Hi.

    Read this:

    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53304

    Stress CAN prevent you losing weight due to the body's increased production of cortisol - which tends to make you store fat.

    :frown:
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/395586-stress

    If you want a scientific perspective, here's a great one.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    I lose when stressed although I know its common to gain too..sometimes due to lack of exercise and bad eating...

    However... if you're really suffering with stress, go see your doc and get some help. Doesn't have to be medication - I had cognitive behavioural therapy. They can not only help you get out of your stress but help prevent it and deal with other issues like confidence, body image tec too :) Good luck! x
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    also try some relaxation techniques...google how to meditate, or find someone that can give you reiki. Day spas or a good massage are also excellent ideas. I am going through the same thing you are, I haven't lost in a very long time because life decided to throw me some curve balls. Something simple as a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book might do the trick too...your body wants you to take care of it, start listening or else it's going to hate you. Good luck!
  • newbride0312
    newbride0312 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks SlenderKitten!

    Think I will be spending much more time in the gym, blocking/ bringing down cortisol production.
  • espence30
    espence30 Posts: 116 Member
    Hi everyone. I'm new here, have been using the calorie counter on my phone for a few days. My husband and I are eating well balanced healthy meals (roughly 300 calories x 4-5 meals daily). This has been roughly 2 weeks now. He is quickly loosing inches and pounds. I'm really not feeling like I am loosing much of anything.

    I know it's a bit early to expect huge drops in weight loss but....
    Has anyone experienced that stress prevents some of the weight from falling off? The last few weeks I have been severly stressing (all job related -erg). Advice???
    yes, stress plays a toll on our body as a woman.. also women don't lose as fast as men.. my husband sheds very fast where as I struggle...age also plays a roll sometimes... with holidays approaching, my stress level is high, so its hard on me to lose weight..
  • newbride0312
    newbride0312 Posts: 13 Member
    lilRicki - great ideas - have tried most of them unfortunately. I think I have to find ways of getting out of the house to decompress- I remote office and work from Home. Just finding it really hard to stop caring and release all the stress.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Cortisol may effect weight loss progress. I've read high doses of vitamin C 6 grams/day can help reduce cortisol levels.
  • jwerman
    jwerman Posts: 176
    Each body is different. But like you, when I stress I tend to hang on to weight also. I'm down almost 55 lbs so far, but the last month has been a work and worry nightmare and the scale just keeps teetering. At first I thought it was a plateau, but then I took a look at what is going on in my life right now. I can't speak for what will work for you, but I still try to make healthy choices (even when that pint of Ben& Jerry's is calling my name), keep exercising and GET PLENTY OF SLEEP! I know that last one is hard, but it is imperative...it is amazing how lack of sleep affects your whole body. Hopefully that helps. :)

    Best wishes to you on your journey!!!

    P.S. It will definitely help that you and your hubby are doing this together. If my hubby wasn't on board also I know it wouldn't work out as well for me. And though it's hard, don't get frustrated at his easy losses, as cliche as it sounds...it's a guy thing! It happened to my hubby too. Hang in there!
  • CMHug
    CMHug Posts: 19 Member
    My experience has been the same. I am going to look into some C supplements as well as vitamin D supplements. Reading, journaling, massages, a funny movie, a good foot rub, yoga-all of those are things that can help alleviate the stress.

    Hang in there!!
  • clwasmer
    clwasmer Posts: 57 Member
    O.M.G....Yes...I am there with you :( My Dr. said stress , cortisol = weight gain. Passion Flower helps too
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    O.M.G....Yes...I am there with you :( My Dr. said stress , cortisol = weight gain. Passion Flower helps too


    what's passion flower?
  • albali
    albali Posts: 225 Member
    I'm not sure about stress but I totally know that my husband loses weight more quickly than I do. He only has to adjust his eating and it drops off him; I have to exercise furiously too to have any effect! Grrr. Is it genetic??
  • newbride0312
    newbride0312 Posts: 13 Member
    I'm not sure about stress but I totally know that my husband loses weight more quickly than I do. He only has to adjust his eating and it drops off him; I have to exercise furiously too to have any effect! Grrr. Is it genetic??

    LOL, I think some aspects are genetic, but I think it males in general loose weight much more easily. My father-in-law goes on his 4 day a week diet when he wants to drop 10-15 lbs. And it works for him!!! He eats and drinks what he wants Friday thru Sunday, and takes off the weight in less than 3 weeks.
  • JonathonC120
    JonathonC120 Posts: 1
    Hi everyone. I'm new here, have been using the calorie counter on my phone for a few days. My husband and I are eating well balanced healthy meals (roughly 300 calories x 4-5 meals daily). This has been roughly 2 weeks now. He is quickly loosing inches and pounds. I'm really not feeling like I am loosing much of anything.

    I know it's a bit early to expect huge drops in weight loss but....
    Has anyone experienced that stress prevents some of the weight from falling off? The last few weeks I have been severly stressing (all job related -erg). Advice???

    Well, stress slow down our metabolism process. As a result, weight losing precess also slows down.
  • dreamshadows
    dreamshadows Posts: 734 Member
    Has anyone experienced that stress prevents some of the weight from falling off?
    All the time! emotions too!
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