Let’s talk about the impact of stress on your body, starting off with your memory.
If you think that your memory is not what it used to be, it could be because of the high cortisol levels that are released when we experience stress. When we are under stress, cortisol and adrenaline are released by our body to help us cope with the attack. In our modern-day lives, we don't have the physical attacks so much anymore. (the only tiger I have is the one that hangs out on my son's bed) Today it is more about the emotional and mental strain of modern-day living. When you are exposed to stress you could find yourself forgetting where you put your keys or what's on the shopping list. My best is forgetting the shopping list and then trying to remember what's on it when I do the shopping - FAIL You may find that you begin to suffer from headaches and this again is because of the cortisol and adrenaline that is rushing through your bloodstream. Next up, when we are regularly stressed then our heart is put under pressure. With regular exposure to stress, our risk of stroke increases. And studies have found that stress increases our bad (LDL) cholesterol. Have you noticed that your skin can sometimes go completely haywire when you’re under stress? and you get severe breakout? This again is the cortisol and adrenaline rushing around your body. So what can you do about managing your stress? There's a saying that goes he who half breathes, half lives. Here is a technique called block breathing.
Get moving It doesn’t matter what you do whether you choose to play in the garden with your children, go to the beach or play in the park. For me, I love to choose 3 songs and just dance in the kitchen. These are my favourites -
Moving helps to reduce the cortisone and adrenaline levels in your bloodstream. Do Something For Yourself And another way is to take a few moments each day to do something for yourself. It could be as simple as enjoying a cup of tea in complete silence or having an Epsom Bath (or if you have water restrictions - a foot bath). What do you do to manage your stress? Come over and join me and others in my Facebook Group - Being Healthy Made Simple. There are lots of resources and a community of women who all want to get and be healthy in the simplest way possible. I can't wait to meet you! 1) You're eating to the point of stuffed and not satisfied.
When you eat to the point of being satisfied then you have given your body sufficient nutrients in order for it to do the job of keeping you alive and kicking. Eating to the feeling of fullness has a lot more to do with emotions. The key is to learn to eat to the point of satisfaction and not to reach the point of feeling stuffed. The Japanese have a term called Hara Hachi bu which means to eat to 80% fullness. The focus is on eating to the point where you no longer feel hungry. And while you focus on this new habit consider chewing your food more times - aim for 20 chews before you swallow. And slow down while you eat. Sit and eat your meal without rushing on to the next task or worse - multitasking! Give your meal the full attention it deserves. 2) You're counting calories, points, macros. And this gets you to the point of feeling stressed out and reaching for foods and snacks that are "forbidden". Instead of worrying about calories, points and macros consider eating a high-quality protein, a fat and fibre. This combination will keep you feeling fuller for longer. It'll help to keep you your blood sugars stable so there are no crashes that leave you craving something sweet and comforting. It will assist your digestive system in moving the food through and removing toxins. 3) You're not drinking enough water. Your body is made up of 70% water. Not enough water is going to have a negative impact on your body in a number of ways. Like - * brain fog, * sugar cravings, * hangry (hungry angry feelings), * dry mouth, * headaches, * dark urine, *bad breath, * dehydration and * dry skin. Aim to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Sounds a lot? Start off small. Have a glass of water after each cup of coffee or tea that you have. These two beverages are diuretics so they push fluid out of your body. Drinking water will help to keep you hydrated. 4) You need a break from the G&Ts and/or wine. I believe you can enjoy a glass or two of your favourite drinkie-poo as part of a healthy lifestyle but it does hamper your progress. Did you know that alcohol contains empty calories. This means that your body is receiving no nutrients but is getting calores that it must use up. Sounds like a raw deal to me. It also dehydrates you and that can then lead to sugar cravings. Take a break for a couple of weeks and see if that makes a difference. So there you have it - 4 reasons why you could not be changing shape. Which one will you focus on first? That's the key when it comes to changing habits - choose one thing and when that becomes easier then add the next change. I'd love to help you make healthy changes to your lifestyle and food choices. Let's have a chat. You can book a free Quit Sugar, Lose Weight Strategy Session on my online calendar - www.healthchats.setmore.com |
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