The Wellness of YOU! - # 58
posted in Nutrition and Weight Loss |What Makes Us Fat?
This will probably be the last article in this series of “What Makes Us Fat”. Now, that doesn’t mean we’ll stop talking about the steps we can take to lose weight, but I’ll be changing the focus a bit.
So far we’ve talked about how much water we drink, how many miles we walk, what effect genetics might play, how getting older might play a role in our nutrition and weight loss goals, what that awful junk food will do to us, our need to avoid calorie-rich foods, how eating out can be fun if we use some caution about what we order and how much we eat, how alcoholic drinks can have a major effect on the size of our waistlines, what it can mean if we don’t pay attention to the details on those food labels, how not getting enough exercise can show up on our waistlines in a hurry, and that women who become pregnant do need to pick up some weight along with maintaining a good nutrition program.
This article will talk about one of the most prominent causes of health problems, not only in terms of weight-gain, but also in more general health terms — and that is — stress!
When we are stressed out our bodies begin to increase the production of cortisol.
Yeah, you say — what the heck is cortisol?
Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone that is involved in the response to stress; it increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels and suppresses the immune system.
If you had some idea that living with too much stress could be bad for you, there’s part of the answer — it (cortisol) increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels and suppresses the immune system.
If you ever get into the situation where you are so stressed that you are producing large amounts of cortisol, the problems become much worse than just some weight gain. The following are just a few of these symptoms:
Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs. Children tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.
Other symptoms appear in the skin, which becomes fragile and thin. It bruises easily and heals poorly. Purplish pink stretch marks may appear on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms and breasts. The bones are weakened, and routine activities such as bending, lifting or rising from a chair may lead to backaches, rib and spinal column fractures.
Most people have severe fatigue, weak muscles, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Irritability, anxiety and depression are common.
Women usually have excess hair growth on their faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs. Their menstrual periods may become irregular or stop. Men have decreased fertility with diminished or absent desire for sex.
(That quote is from the Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service.)
Anyway, you need to know that stress is not good for you if you’re trying to stay on a good nutrition and weight loss program.
Stress-related cortisol is linked to higher fat production, especially around the mid-section where fat is the most harmful. Stress can also cause you to eat when you’re not truly in need of food. It can also lead you to make poor food choices. Making poor food choices and eating too much of them will certainly cause you to gain more weight.
Stress is also closely linked to depression. Many people who are depressed will take anti-depressants. Anti-depressants, in and of themselves, can also cause weight gain and make losing weight seem impossible. Depression itself can also lead to compulsive overeating. When we are depressed our body craves more simple carbohydrates and sugar because these things will increase serotonin production. (If you’re wondering what serotonin is — it’s the brain chemical that makes us feel happy.)
If you are eating properly — if you can manage to control the amount of stress in your life — if you can follow all of the items we’ve detailed in these articles, your serotonin levels will stay at normal levels and you will lose the cravings for foods that are not good for you.
As they say in the current vernacular — Lighten-up!
I sure hope you are doing well — we’ll be back tomorrow with some more thoughts and ideas about nutrition and weight loss.
Until then, remember to follow a good-fat — good-carb diet and stay with your regular exercise.
Here is some information about the nutritional supplements I add to my nutrition and weight loss program. These have helped me more than I would have ever imagined. I’m not kidding. Click on the links in the box below — you won’t be sorry!
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You can find out more about the supplements that I take and highly recommend by looking at these pages: — My Health Products – Testimonials — and Uses for My Products. Read through those pages and then contact me with your questions. I’m here to help you to achieve your nutrition and weight loss goals. My contact information can be found at this site: |
Have a great day. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more nutrition and weight loss thoughts for you.
And give the South Beach Diet a try. That’s what I follow. Here’s where to go to learn more:
Shanti,
Ron
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