Stress Raises Your Blood Sugar

If you sleep too much or too little, you are more likely to be overweight. Then be specific about how you are going to approach them. This can leave you depressed, craving carbs. However, you need insulin to carry the tryptophan into your brain, where this conversion into serotonin happens. You release insulin upon eating carbs. The insulin release boosts your serotonin. Consequently, when your serotonin is low, you crave carbs. You need Omega 3 fats and vitamin D to make and use serotonin properly. Many people are low in these nutrients. But it’s not just about what you eat. Lack of sleep increases your appetite and reduces the amount of fat you burn. These are obesogens, so make you gain weight.

Transformative Contrasts

Checking back in with Emma, I found that she was continuing to start each day with a healthy breakfast. On top of that, she was eating more Omega 3 fats and generally making better choices when it came to carbs. She had always found sugar hard to resist, so was thrilled that her sweet tooth was diminishing. When she wanted to snack in the evenings, she was now having fresh figs. But Emma’s change wasn’t all about food. The running machine at home, she hadn’t used in over a year. Sleep was also an issue. Once she got to sleep, she was fine, but Emma would often be thinking about work when she went to bed and found it hard to drop off. She decided to try getting up earlier and catch up on her paperwork then, instead of in the evening. This was not an easy change! Emma’s body had to adjust to new hours. She decided to try it for two weeks, even if it was hard. It didn’t go brilliantly, to start with! She ended up working in the morning and the evening, which wasn’t her plan! Initially, she wasn’t that productive first thing in the morning, but it surprised her how quickly she adapted.

Make It Better

She also decided to put a limit on how much work she brought home. That was really difficult, as she had to decide what to drop, and it all felt critical! But she realised that her health was also important. If she carried on like she had been, she wasn’t doing herself any favours. She acknowledged that she was a bit of a perfectionist and needed to let something go. Now that she wasn’t working in the evening, Emma started going for walks after dinner. Sometimes a friend would join her, so she was also getting the social contact she felt was important, as she lived alone. When it was pouring with rain, she got out her running machine and alternated running and walking, as she wasn’t fit enough to run for long anymore! The first time she ran, she felt incredibly achy the next day, telling her she needed to do it more often! After a while, Emma dropped off to sleep more quickly and felt more resilient, more able to deal with stress. It wasn’t long before she noticed that her body was firming up and she felt fitter, more toned. Her focus had shifted to balancing her body, rather than losing weight. But when she got the scales out, she discovered that, in the process, she had lost five pounds. Your body is designed to be used, to be physically active. Let’s face it, Stone Age people didn’t spend large parts of their day in front of their screens! It regulates your female hormone levels and helps regulate your bowels so you eliminate old hormones.

Something So Right

Some of these toxins may be obesogens. Many of us are very stressed. Our bodies are designed to have a physical response to stress, so exercising is important. Besides making you feel good, increased serotonin helps control your appetite. So if you tend to overeat, being physically active can help. Try keeping your body moving regularly throughout the day. Take the stairs rather than the lift. At home, walk up the stairs rather than piling things on the bottom step to take up later. Get up from your desk every hour and stretch or walk around for five minutes. Even fifteen minutes can be effective. Not only does exercising burn more calories, but it also builds muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you are resting. Building muscle is the best way to boost your metabolism. Sweating can help you eliminate some toxins from your body. Not only does it make you want to reach for calorific foods, but it also makes you store more fat, particularly around your belly. Stress raises your blood sugar, making it harder to regulate. Your stress hormones are produced by your adrenals, and blood sugar imbalances significantly affect your adrenal function. Your adrenals are an important source of oestrogen if you are postmenopausal. You therefore want them to be efficient. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, it is vital to address your stress levels, as stress can cause your adrenals to produce more testosterone. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the sheer pace and stresses of modern life. You may even be so used to it that you don’t register just how stressed you are. Running can help reduce stress and anxiety. If you do not feel able to go for a run, try taking a brisk walk when you are stressed. If you have been under a lot of stress for a long time, your adrenals may be exhausted. Instead, try some simple stretches, yoga or a gentle walk. Does finding time to relax feel like yet another thing to fit in that you don’t have time for? If so, it’s probably a sign you really need it! However, it is also important to directly address the stresses in your life and find ways to manage them. Additionally, take time out to relax. Not getting enough sleep may lower your metabolism, as a consequence of which you put on weight more easily. It’s all about balance.