Lose Stress to lose weight
In response to acute stress, adrenalin, a stress hormone is released in our bodies. The release of adrenalin results in the fight or flight response; an increase in alertness and decrease in response-time to threats. This response has served mankind well in the past, but our environments have changed.
It is believed that our ancestors experienced relatively short sharp stress events, and if they survived, their stress subsided. Nowadays however, apart from hair-raising events on the motorway, we have a seemingly endless stream of relatively small stress-events that lead to an almost constant release of adrenalin, and our bodies can suffer as a result. Unfortunately however, our bodies have not adapted quickly enough to this constant flow of adrenalin.
The diagram below represents a simplified string of events that occurs within our bodies when we become stressed.
But wait, there’s more!
There is another stress hormone that has an impact on our metabolism. Cortisol is a long-term stress hormone. In our past this hormone would have been released when there was famine, natural disasters, or wars leading to scarcity of food. Such events are no longer a common occurrence for most people in developed countries, instead these stressful events have been replaced by financial or relationship concerns:
- Cortisol tells every cell in our body that food is scarce.
- Cortisol’s role is to slow down metabolism.
- Cortisol breaks down muscle tissue to convert it to glucose.
- Reduced muscle tissue means reduced storage of glucose leading to additional glucose being stored as fat.
- Fat is mostly stored around the belly and at the back of the arms.
- Trying to lose weight and not succeeding adds additional stress perpetuating the cycle.
- Eating less on a diet confirms to your body what it perceives to be true and slows down your metabolism even further.
What are the solutions to the stress we experience in our modern times?
One method is diaphragm breathing; this is something that we can control consciously. By taking long slow breaths that move our diaphragm (belly breathing) we can communicate to our bodies that we are safe and in so doing reduce the release of adrenalin and cortisol.
Any activities that include diaphragm breathing are beneficial, such as yoga, tai chi, or qi gong. For yoga classes in West Auckland please visit www.facebook.com/HanneHatha?fref=ts. There you will find locations and contact details.
To learn how to cope with and reduce stress in stressful situations, please see my next blog Dealing With Stressful Situations.