| No matter what your age or circumstances, stress is | | | | minerals you need. |
| an inevitable part of everyone's life and ongoing | | | | 2. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water every |
| stress actually contributes to gaining weight. Elissa | | | | day to flush the toxins out of your system. |
| Epel, PhD and assistant professor in the psychiatry | | | | 3. Exercise for twenty to thirty minutes three to five |
| department at the University of California, states, | | | | times each week. Choose a physical activity you |
| "While the immediate...response to acute stress can | | | | enjoy, such as biking, weight lifting or walking, |
| be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more we | | | | because getting pleasure from your exercise routine |
| are coming to recognize that for some people, | | | | will also help minimize stress. |
| chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite - | | | | 4. Avoid foods with sugar and caffeine that offer a |
| and stress-induced weight gain." | | | | false sense of energy. |
| Short term stressful situations, such as anxiety, | | | | 5. Avoid alcohol, which has an impact on the sugar |
| excitement or fear, cause an adrenaline rush that | | | | levels in your body. |
| temporarily burns fat. However, long term stress | | | | 6. Get plenty of sleep every night because when you |
| increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our | | | | are tired, you tend to feel more hungry. |
| bodies, causing the body to store excess fat. Most | | | | 7. Engage in activities designed to help you relax, |
| of this extra fat is stored in your belly and hips - | | | | such as yoga or meditation. |
| exactly where you don't want it. | | | | 8. Watch less television - statistics show that up to |
| Although several products claim to reduce cortisol, | | | | ninety percent of people who watch television an |
| there is no medical evidence to substantiate those | | | | hour or more each day fail at their weight loss goals. |
| claims. A proven way to minimize cortisol levels in | | | | 9. Avoid crash diets which could increase your stress |
| your body and eliminate excess fat is by reducing | | | | level and actually cause the production of additional |
| your stress. There are many additional benefits of | | | | cortisol, alleviating any potential weight loss you may |
| stress reduction, such as lowered blood pressure and | | | | have been able to experience. |
| increased mental health. | | | | 10. When you feel really hungry, choose whole-grain, |
| Here are several simple ways to de-stress for | | | | high-fiber foods, like oatmeal and fruit, which keep |
| maximum physical and emotional fitness: | | | | insulin levels even to control blood sugar and your |
| 1. Eat at least 4-6 small, well-balanced meals each day | | | | hunger. |
| to properly maintain the sugar levels in your body and | | | | By reducing the stress in your life, you can get rid of |
| ensure you are getting all the essential vitamins and | | | | excess fat and emotional baggage at the same time! |