If you constantly say to yourself, ‘‘I’m eating the healthiest food, I’m doing the healthy things, I don’t understand why it’s not working!’’ It’s because it’s only half the equation.
You need to destress lady!
I realize this is not always an easy thing to do. Most of us are juggling way too much and going through the day at warp speed, trying to get more and more accomplished. By having a high-stress level, not only is it harmful to your health, it’s harmful to your waistline as well.
When you are constantly under stress, hormone levels, like cortisol and insulin are elevated. The elevation of these 2 hormones can sabotage your weight loss efforts and actually cause weight gain.
‘Feeling stressed can create a wide variety of physiological changes, such as impairing digestion, excretion of valuable nutrients, decreasing beneficial gut flora populations, decreasing your metabolism, and raising triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, and cortisol levels.’ – Mercola.com
All this stress can even lower your sex drive!
If you are doing everything right as far as diet and exercise but you’re under stress every day, you’re not going to see or feel the results you want.
So, while you may think you can “handle it” as far as your stress level goes, we aren’t meant to be under constant stress, and it takes its toll.
Think of it this way…..
Your body doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined stress.
Years ago when we were potential prey from other animals, if you’re running from a bear, you won’t have the time or energy to digest a tuna sandwich because your blood flow is routed away from digestion to the arms and the legs, and the digestive system shuts down.
So… If you’re stressing yourself out about a meeting, going to work, who will watch the kids and eating as you’re running out the door, your body will not digest the food.
You have put yourself in stress mode so your body is shutting down digestion to protect you.
So the food you’re eating and the actions you’re taking are only half the equation.
Related article: What to do when you’re stressed to the max….
The other half of the equation—-and it’s a big deal!—-is being in the ideal state for digestion and assimilation (relaxation).
Recap: Healthy food and lifestyle choices, plus, the ideal state for digestion, and the ideal state for assimilation.
This is what equals the best health and life, ever.
The wonderful Marie Forleo over at the beautiful land of marietv.com has some awesome suggestions…
- Create a stress log! It’s easy enough to implement and allows you to brain dump it and deal with it strategically versus playing it out in your head over and over.
- Writing it down causes shrinkage (which is good when it comes to stress). The moment we write it down, we shrink it to something manageable.
- It’s actionable – you can’t solve a problem completely while it’s rolling around in your head. Ask yourself what you can change about your attitude or approach.
- It gives you a sense of power. When you write it down, you own it.
For Marie’s full stress log episode and an awesome printable click here.
I know there will still be some of you who do write it out, you make a list and it may stress you out, even more, when you see how big your list of stressors are. I’m the same way! The thing is, you can’t do it all. Yea, you may be able to have it all but you can’t do it all. We are all superwoman in our own way but even she has to ask for help from Batman or Captain America sometimes.
If you need help, ask for help.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, here are some more wonderful tips from Marie Forleo…
- You’re in control and you can stop it.
- It’s not a failure or a sign of weakness if you get help. This is a huge one for me. I hate delegating when I’m at work and feel bad when I ask for help at home. But, the more I do it, the more I get used to it and it truly does pull me out of the overwhelm pit.
- Get real with yourself and make a list – what are you spending your time on? Physically…. Mentally….. Write it all down!
Again, you don’t have to do it all. You (and your family/coworkers) will be soooo much happier if you give yourself a break and don’t do it all.
Now, I want to hear from you.
What is one stressor that reoccurs in your life? Show up for yourself and write it down.
What are 3 possible solutions to reduce your stress level? Or, what are some ways you can cope better with your stress?
Is there something you can start this week?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
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Thank you so much for reading and joining the conversation.
I’m truly grateful for your participation,
Becca
P.s. Here’s a simple tool to help you check-in with your priorities. Knowing what they are helped me destress. I hope it helps you too. Here is also a short (3 min) video to help you put your priorities in balance.