Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. It's a normal part of life. We all experience stress in our lives, whether it's the little day to day things that bring it on or one gigantic stress cloud looming overhead due to something big going on in your life. So, will stress make you lose weight or gain weight? It's really up to you and your habits. Some people lose their appetites during stressful times, thus losing weight, while others turn to food as a stress reliever and gain weight.
What actually happens to your body during times of stress? Consider this article from WebMD:
The Stress Management Diet
How Does Stress Affect Health?
The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds.
Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.
Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try and relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems. Consider the following:
-43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
-75% to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
-Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
-The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.
There are solutions. We're not going to get rid of stress anytime soon. We just need to learn to deal with it in a healthier way. We need to deal with it, period. It seems like there are people that aren't handling life well when things get bad and are turning to violence. We hear about it in the news every day. Remember, stress isn't happening "to" you, but "around" you. YOU choose how to deal with it. Are you going to stop eating or do the opposite and bury your problems with food and then feel bad about weight gain on top of it all? Hopefully, you can choose another plan and eat healthy food that will fuel you through the day and make you feel good.
Find a "drain" for your stresses. Exercise is one of the best stress drains there is. Choose your activity and get to it! Once you are "in the zone," exercising your heart out, you will feel the stresses draining right out of you. You will feel better afterward and that is something to feel good about! Personally, when I'm having a stressful day, I can't wait to get to the gym and pound out a tough workout! Another option is yoga and meditation to ease your stress.
Nourish your body with good food, not sugary, greasy, fatty, salty foods.
According to Livestrong.com, there are "right" kinds of food that help fight stress. Some of these foods are: almonds, walnuts, pistachios, avocados, oatmeal, oranges, salmon and spinach. All of these foods either carry antioxidants, increase serotonin, or are packed with vitamin C, magnesium or omega-3 fatty acids. These are all good edibles that help soothe your brain and ease stress. Please, ask yourself, "Is this unhealthy food really going to help me right now?" the next time you swing through the drive-thru on a rough day.
Read this other article that I found for more detailed information on what stress does to your body: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/can-stress-cause-weight-gain?page=1
Take care of yourself.
