Handling Stress for Weight Loss

Posted: Oct 08 in Weight Loss Blog by

With so much time spent thinking about the foods that you eat and how often you can work out, it is easy to get caught up in the ins and outs of diet and exercise and to completely overlook the many other factors that may impact your weight loss efforts. For example, did you know that being stressed out can actually inhibit your ability to lose weight? This means that all of those hours spent stressing over what to eat and what to wear may actually be backfiring on your ability to reach your weight loss goals!

Stress is a tricky subject. It may seem like it comes from nowhere, but stress is biological. When you experience something that is stressful, your body actually triggers a biological response. Hormones start rushing through your blood, causing you to feel those physical symptoms of unease and panic.

When it comes to calming down, well that is easier said than done, too. Stress doesn’t just go away because you tell yourself to stop stressing. If you don’t know how to manage your stress, then you may quickly find yourself in a situation in which your stress manages you.

This is why it is so important to learn how to manage your stress level as you begin to focus on losing weight. Even after having weight loss surgery, it is possible that being stressed out will prevent you from being successful in reaching your weight loss goals.

Here are a few tips and tricks for managing your stress successfully as you lose weight:

  • Exercise to clear your mind in addition to burning calories. Listen to music that helps you feel motivated and encouraged, and get your mind off of whatever it is that is stressing you out.
  • Try other exercises that are helpful for stress management, like yoga or aerobics. Yoga is great thanks to its meditational qualities, but aerobic classes are also useful because they can be cathartic.
  • Drink plenty of water and try to avoid drinking a lot of caffeine. Caffeine will give you the jitters and will enhance any feelings of stress or panic that you are experiencing naturally. Remember that after having weight loss surgery, you need to drink water slowly and gradually throughout the day.

If you are feeling a lot of stress after weight loss surgery, check in with your weight loss surgeon. A lot of life changes can bring on a lot of stress. Sometimes becoming part of a weight loss support group post-surgery can help you overcome those stressful feelings and start feeling better.

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