Does Stress cause weight gain?
Thank you for listening to the Be A Fucking lion podcast. I am your host MJ, and today’s episode is short and to the point.
STRESS! We all have it. None of us are exempt from experiencing it. Stress is one of many factors that people use as a reason why they gained weight, without really discovering the underlying issue. It’s easy to blame it on stress and call it a day.
It is true that stress can cause increased cortisol levels which increases your appetite or cravings for sugary foods. It also can cause some water retention. Keep in mind, the amount of cortisol secreted in response to stress can vary amounts individuals. Each one of us may innately respond more reactively to stressful events than others. As I always say, when it comes to fitness and nutrition, there is not a one size fits all approach.
Stress alone does not cause weight gain directly. What is causing the weight gain are the activities that follow from the stress. If you are spot on with with tracking calories and energy expenditure, you may be more likely plateauing due to metabolic adaptation. You may need to reduce your calories or increase your activity level or a combination of both.
In addition to higher cortisol levels, you may be eating in an attempt to fulfill psychological needs while you are under stress. Perhaps you are sitting on the couch eating ice cream to make yourself feel better in that moment, or you are stressed so you are skipping exercise. You could be binging at night because of some deep-seated resentment smoldering beneath the surface. Whatever the stress factor is, there is no way to fix the secondary problem until you’ve addresses the root issue of the stress.
If you do not address the underlying issues, you are just fighting an uphill battle. Instead of blaming your weight-gain on stress, take a step back and figure out WHY your are stressed, what is causing it, and fix it. Being mindful of your actions is a sure fire way to get you on the path to over-coming your stress. When you find yourself wanting to eat for comfort, skipping a workout, or binge eating, stop and ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” “Why am I feeling stressed?”m “What can I do in this moment to fix this problem instead of masking it with food?” Talk to yourself in your head. It always starts there. Remind yourself how important your goals are. I have a quote I saw once that I often ask myself when I’m feeling my will-power giving in; this is the quote. Write this down. I will wait a minute while you grab a pen and paper or put it in your notes on your phone.
Here is the quote: “Never sacrifice what you want most for what you want in that tempting moment.”
Listen to it again and I hope you wrote it down. “Never sacrifice what you want most for what you want in that tempting moment.”
How did this quote resonate with you? Do you think this will help you make the better decision when you are tempted with eating a whole cake? Or while you are sitting in the fast food drive-thru? You must learn how to control your mindset and that is the recipe to success in all of your life goals.
Thank you for listening to the Be A Fucking Lion podcast. If you liked this episode, or I have provided any kind of value for you with my podcast, could you please do me a favor and leave a comment, share with your friends and help me, help more people. I super appreciate you! You can follow my fitness journey on instagram and Twitter at mj_fitandfierce .
Be happy. Be healthy. BE A FUCKING LION and smash your goals.