A Silent Saboteur of Your Weight Loss
Niels Steeman
I translate the science of performance into result-driven outcomes | Commercial and Marketing Executive | Health and Performance Coach
Losing weight is a shared aspiration in today’s western world, often driven by societal pressures or personal milestones that beckon us to fit into that beloved tuxedo or confidently sport those new swimming trunks come beach season.
We all know that exercise and considering making wise(r) choices in food are the top contenders, and an incremental amount of humanity is taking it one step further. Too many people may resort to extreme diets or intense workouts.
The market screams and shouts success, drawing in cash and often failing to deliver in the long run.
These beyond-the-acceptable measures usually leave people disillusioned and moving to another extreme. Yo-yo dieting, not accepting those smaller incremental changes that take time, and mixing and matching marathon sessions in front of YouTube by leading gurus of various muscle factories.
However, we often overlook a crucial factor in our weight loss journey: mental health. Unaddressed issues can contribute to weight gain, making it essential to tackle them for successful fat loss. One of the most prevalent obstacles to weight loss is stress, a factor that we cannot afford to ignore.
In today's fast-paced world, stress is an unavoidable reality. We cannot live without stress, but there are different types of stress. The association with the lesser preferred one (distress) is intertwined in our minds.
And it is this form that stops us from dropping those few kilos.
We constantly juggle between work and relationships, managing finances and family demands, leading to a state of constant anxiety.
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Our bodies haven't fully adapted to differentiate between mental anguish and physical threats, triggering the "fight or flight" response in both cases (activating the so-called sympathetic nervous system). This stress response leads to the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that can elevate blood sugar levels, even without consuming refined or processed foods.
The increased blood sugar levels can stimulate the production of insulin, a hormone responsible for storing fat. This process can lead to weight gain, particularly in the abdominal area.
Therefore, addressing stress is crucial for weight loss, as it can prevent the body from storing excess fat.
One of these often-overlooked matters is why we believe we eat well and exercise hard(er) but do not see any results. It is why we continue to move on without looking at other, hidden factors that regulate our metabolism and overall functioning.
Solutions are often right in front of us. Stressful matters can also be easily controlled if you know what moves the needle from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic side of your nervous system.
Think of your workouts as important meetings you’ve scheduled with yourself. Bosses don’t cancel. | Anonymous
So true. Yet, modern society seems to “expect us” to be stressed and is sometimes even seen as a failure when we aren’t.
I agree