Some do not realize that their mind impacts their physical body, but in all reality it does. Take a moment and think about having to make a presentation in front of a crowd. Do you ever get “butterflies in your stomach”, start to sweat, or feel your heart beating fast? It is most likely because you are getting nervous or anxious. This is a prime example that our thoughts can impact our physical body. With this in mind, it is possible for our mental stress to have an impact on our ability to lose weight.
Historically, stress was a way that we survived. Our bodies dealt with stress for shorter periods of time, and most of the time it was more physical than mental. For example, stress was being chased down by a tiger. From this perspective, the stress caused a release of cortisol (stress hormone) which helped you to run faster, think clearer, breathe better, and ultimately survive.
Now, we are not running from tigers, we are dealing with piles of paperwork, financial issues, stress at home and stress at work. We are not physically dealing with our stress, yet our bodies continue to release the same hormones that would help us to run faster, think clearer, and breathe easier. On top of this, we are not getting the health benefits of the exercise of dealing with the stress of today (unless your paperwork begins to chase you around, then maybe). Because our bodies are dealing with stress for much longer, our health is negatively impacted because of the wear and tear these hormones being released for so long can have on our bodies. Prolonged stress slows the body’s capacity to heal, degrades organs, suppresses the immune system, increases blood pressure, increases appetite, and can cause muscle wasting.
So how does stress halt weight loss. From a physical perspective, cortisol, the stress hormone, causes many changes in the body when it is released. From a short term perspective, it causes our heart rate and blood sugars to increase in order to have the energy needed to handle the physical stress. This can cause not only an accumulation of fat in our bodies, but also other negative impact such as those listed above. From a mental – emotional perspective, stress can cause us to feel depressed, not get outside, lack motivation; all of which can contribute to weight gain.
Because of the large role stress can have on weight and overall health, one of the main things that I tend to focus on with any patient who comes in wanting to lose weight, is stress management. Once you eliminate stress and its impact on you, you may have a easier time losing weight, and also may feel better overall.
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Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC today and let me help you achieve your health goals.