Wouldn’t it be easier if we craved a large veggie-filled salad when

we’re stressed? Hallelujah!  


Unfortunately, it seems to be the opposite — we tend to look for

comfort in food when we’re stressed out or anxious. Not only do

our choices seem to change when we’re stressed, but our

body actually processes food differently when we’re under

stress.

This is called the fight or flight mode. Your hormones are naturally

programmed to release chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol

when you feel stressed. Elevated amounts of these hormones

regularly give us feelings of hunger, putting us on an endless

cycle of reaching for comfort foods and eating more than we

need. Another side effect is a slower metabolism. Stress

hormones being released regularly slows down the metabolism.

Because stress affects your brain’s wiring for rewards and our

cortisol levels trick us into wanting more fat and sugar, we

automatically head toward those comfort foods during times of

stress.
. 
One of the most significant factors for making poor eating choices

when you’re stressed out is lack of sleep. Lack of sleep affects

the chemicals that control your appetite, which can begin another

seemingly endless cycle of the hamster wheel.


Make sleep a priority. Aim for 7-8 hours a night, even if you have

to rearrange the schedule you’re accustomed to.

But now that you know where your stress is taking you, you can

do something about it. First of all — name your stressors. What are the top things that cause you to stress? 

It’s important to fit exercise into your schedule, even if all you

have time for is a brisk 10-minute walk. When you do sit down for

a meal, practice mindfulness instead of zoning out in front of your

phone or the television.


Stress is something that we can’t eradicate completely, but we

cause a lot of the stress we undergo. For example, we feel

stressed because we’re unorganized, unprepared, and our home

is in disarray. These are all very common reasons for being under

stress, and they’re so fixable! Make a plan to tackle the things that

are causing you stress, and start chipping away at

them.

You’ll be amazed at how much your digestion improves, your

sleep quality improves, and you’ll feel lighter.


What will be YOUR 1st step in fight back against stress??

Check out my FREE guide to my top tip to dropping weight! Click HERE to download today.