4 Ways Stress Affects Your Weight Loss Journey

There are different sources of stress, including but not limited to, your job, illness, family and relationships. A weight loss journey is also a form of stress. This is because you have to try to control your eating habits because you have to exercise even when you don’t feel like, as well as, many other factors. Because the weight loss journey provides a form of stress, additional stress always has an effect on your weight loss journey
Some of the ways stress affect your weight loss journey include;

Increases unhealthy cravings

Stress induces the release of stress hormones. These stress hormones then lead to a short term increase in the use of energy. This short term increase use of energy induces increased intake of food, especially high-calorie foods. This is why when you are stressed you find yourself craving those sweet treats. In addition, stress many times leads to your mind trying to look for comfort. This then leads to an increase in cravings for “comfort food”. This, of course, opposes your weight loss journey and makes it ineffective.

Metabolic Rate

Stress has an interesting effect on your metabolic rate. In acute states (i.e. when you are under stress for short periods of time), stress actually increases your metabolic rates, thereby helping your weight loss journey. However, in chronic states, (i.e. over a long period of time) stress, by unknown mechanisms, leads to a slowdown in your metabolic rates, which then hinders the productivity of your weight loss journey.

Increased fat storage

Cortisol which is one of the stress hormones in chronic high states leads to an abnormal distribution of fat. This happens both in cases wherein the cortisol levels are due to a biological cause such as tumors or non-biological causes such as stress. This, of course, means that when we are chronically stressed, we are most likely to have an ineffective weight loss journey or regimen.

Increased Weight loss

Excess stress can lead to mental conditions such as anxiety, anorexia or even bulimia. These states usually lead to a decrease in appetite, feeling full at all times, as well as, non-localized stomach ache. These decrease in the intake of food then leads to an increased loss of weight which is in some way a plus to your weight loss journey.

Conclusion

Stress in excess has harmful effects on our bodies. It is either harmful or “beneficial” to our weight loss journey. Regardless of its effects on your weight loss journey. It is important to realize that excess stress is in total, not beneficial to both your physical and mental health. Therefore it is important to always try to control your stress levels as well as eat healthily and exercise regularly.