Tag Archive for Penny getfit2
How stress makes you fat!
Take a lunch break
When feeling stressed the adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol into the blood supply to prepare the body for flight or fight. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels so your brain, muscles and organs have enough fuel to get you through that stressful situation – either running away (flight) or pushing on through even though you are tired and anxious (fight), this put very simply, promots our body to store fat.
So how would you describe your current stress levels?
A little bit of stress is not a bad thing. The problem occurs when you are constantly in that stressful state and not allowing yourself to come down from it, relax and take time out. Chronically elevated cortisol increases blood sugar levels, which then elevate insulin levels preparing the body for fight or flight…this, among other things, will stop you from burning fat no matter what exercise or diet program you follow.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH YOUR STRESS?
Chocolate? Biscuits? …Comfort eating! » Read more
Is it my hormones or is it warm in here?
Do you suffer from hot flushes or night sweats?
Have you tried liquorice root to help the symptoms? (No, not the liquorice you get in the sweatshop!)
Many supermarkets are selling liquorice teas now. Teapigs do a very tasty liquorice and peppermint (I was lucky enough to try this at a friend’s this week as she had been given some free samples!)
Many women have told me over the last few years that they have been sprinkling flax seeds on their breakfast cereals to combat hot flushes.
But there is no research supporting flax seeds helping with heated moments. (Although they are good for increasing fibre intake so keep going with them if you are following this regime.)
There is supporting evidence towards licorice helping with hot flushes…so go buy some tea ladies if you are suffering.
But remember, the problem can also be exacerbated by too high a sugar intake in your diet.
So combine the liquorice tea with a lifestyle change towards sugar and you’ll be well on your way to combating those tropical moments.
Do you suffer from fois gras!
If you go onto Google Translate and translate fatty liver into French…the translation is fois gras!
The French delicacy fois gras is made by force-feeding ducks starchy carbohydrates (corn), which turns to sugar.
Fatty liver = hepatitis from eating too much sugar (and an unhealthy diet all round)
Having a fatty liver causes problems as our liver is unable to work properly which leads to a further increased load of toxins in our bodies, creating more disease.
Can you choose one thing this week to help your liver out? Here are some ideas
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Start your day with a protein breakfast instead of sugary cereals
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Reduce the amount of sugar you have in your cups of tea/coffee
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Swap your afternoon cake/Mars bar/crisps for some almonds
Maybe you have some other healthy ideas? I’d love to hear them…share on my facebook page getfit2 or email me getfit2@yahoo.co.uk :0)
What’s Your Stress Perspective?
In a potentially stressful situation...how you view things can help you manage stress.
Once you learn how to deal better with stressful situations you will find your health and outlook on life considerably improve.
When you think of stress what do you think of?
Possibly getting uptight when external issues are getting to you such as...
- your boss giving you even more work to do
- or getting stuck in traffic which means you may miss your train...
- or just too much to do in your life!!
Stress is caused by the mind or body not coping with life's challenges.
How you view a situation and how you respond to it is in your own hands...your individual perception of whether it is stressful or not.
Let’s take one of the examples above...
You are due to catch a train but you are stuck in traffic, real bad traffic due to a lorry dumping it’s load and causing a total blockage in the road. So you will miss the train.
There is nothing you can do about it...you’re stuck!
You may be sitting in your car listening to the traffic reports and getting more and more stressed and irate.
Or you may put some calming music on and think ‘so I’ll get the next train’. Yes it’s inconvenient, yes it may cost you the price of another train ticket, yes you may have to delay or postpone a meeting. But how is getting stressed going to help your situation? It won’t.
In fact it will make things worse
...you may need the loo...quickly...but where???
...you may start making decisions about the meeting, the train, the journey which are wrong because you’re unable to think clearly
...you could have a heart attack!!!
all systems of the body are effected by stress including muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine (hormones), Digestive, nervous and reproductive systems
If we put ourselves through constant stress the body never has time to recover and over time this can lead to many health issues. Here are a few that I have come across with my clients:
- Migraines from constant muscle tension around the neck and shoulders
- Irritable bowel syndrome causing digestive problems
- Weight gain or loss due to digestion problems and emotional eating
- Hormonal problems due to constant high cortisol levels creating hormone imbalances
- Tiredness from adrenal fatigue and lack of sleep
And worse
- High blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes
External stress is a state of mind of how you deal with a situation.
Think to yourself...what’s the worse thing that can happen? I use this question a lot and it really keeps me from getting on the stress train! Try it.
Obviously there are other stress reduction techniques such as time management, planning ahead and making lifestyle changes that will also help with stress.
What about internal stress then?
These are things for another blog. Too much information can be stressful.
Let’s just concentrate on our stress perspective for the time being.
Remember...
small manageable steps to fantastic health and wellness