The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Water and Stress Reduction

The connection between Stresses and losing weight is one point we can not wish away.

If there is one thing we really have to acknowledge in our lives, it is the daily presence of stress. We cannot shy away from this reality that being stressful is a daily occurrence in everyone’s life. Ordinarily a bit of stress every now and again is normal, however living with continual stress can have a major impact on your health, well-being and weigh more so when it is all about chronic stress. Stress normally adversely affects your weight. Wait a minute I don’t mean to scare you, worry less because short-term stresses are normal and usually help us lose weight anyway. However the problem comes when the short term turn into long term stresses, such as a negative job or relationship problems these can escalate your weight from the ground up. Therefore we want to take some time and try to understand the connection between stresses and losing weight. Being overweight and being stressful are two major elements that affect lives quite negatively. If there is any connection between the two then we must find solutions to this problem emanating from the connection.

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Cortisol connection

One of the things that stress does is release stress hormones cortisol and neuropeptide Y. remember that cortisol acts directly on your fat deposits, causing you to gain fat around the belly. When we experience stress our adrenal glands trigger the fight or flight response, which sends messages to the cortisol receptors in our abdomen. This is like a red alert for the body and all functions are put on standby to prepare for danger: fat is then stored around our abdomen to ensure there’s enough food in case of famine or another life-threatening situation. Did you get that? Now when it comes to the cravings we experience when stressed, it is these hormones working. It must be noted that cortisol influences certain addictive behaviors and by so doing necessitating the desire for high-fat and high-sugar foods more attractive and luring. Besides that cortisol will also acts on the hypothalamus in your brain to trigger your level of hunger thereby propelling you to eat heavily when stressed. You can now begin to understand the connection between stresses and losing weight. Nevertheless while our lineages had a clearly defined beginning and end to their stressful periods, many of us don’t, and that is why our bodies can react in such an extreme manner. Some of us are living in a constant state of stress and our bodies just aren’t coping.

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Water and Stress Reduction

When I first made this comment “sipping stress away” the question which followed was, what’s the link between water and stress reduction? And the response was equally easy, simply “drink a glass of water”. Therefore if you’re looking for a simple way to relax from your stress-filled life, the solution lies in drinking water. How is this possible doctor Akoury explains? The association between water and stress reduction is actually well illustrated. Take for instance all human organs, including our brains, need water to function correctly. If you’re dehydrated, your body isn’t running well and that can trigger stress. Studies have shown that being just half a liter dehydrated can increase your cortisol levels which are stress hormones. Remember that when your body is well hydrated the stress levels are minimized. And the opposite of this is also true that when you don’t give your body the fluids it needs, you’re inviting stress in your body and the body is going to react to it (stress). That doesn’t mean that drinking plenty of water throughout the day will magically cause your stressors (money problems, your kids’ troubles at school, and your deadlines at work) to disappear that is not so. But if you’re already stressed by coping with all of these things, you don’t need the additional stress of dehydration to add to your burden. Simply drink water and save yourself this additional burden of stress. Remember that failing to drink water is likely to cause you more stress because your heart rate is up and you’re breathing more heavily which then result in losing more fluid. And during times of stress, you’re more likely to forget to drink and eat well.

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Stress and Dehydration

Stress can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause stress. This is a vicious cycle we must break by all means. You can break it by building more water consumption into your day. Stress can result in many of the same responses as dehydration increased heart rate, nausea, fatigue, headache so if you can remain hydrated you can reduce the magnitude of the physiological responses we have to stress.

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: How do you know if you’re dehydrated?

First, are you thirsty? If you are, you’re already dehydrated. Second, take a look at the bowl the next time you go to the bathroom. If the urine is dark in color and has a pungent smell, you’re dehydrated. The darker the urine and the stronger the smell, the more dehydrated you are. Does that communicate something to you?

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Tips for Drinking Enough Water Each Day

How can you build more water consumption into your day? Try these tips:

• Carry an insulated sports bottle with you and fill it up periodically.
• Keep a glass of water on your desk at work.
• Keep another glass next to your bed. Many of us wake up dehydrated first thing in the morning.
• Switch one glass of soda or cup of coffee for a glass of water.
• Drink small amounts of water throughout the day. Six glasses all at once isn’t good for you!

Finally if there are certain places and times in your life when you know you’re under extra stress say at work, at carpool pickup or during a particular class ensure that you have a bottle of water with you to sip during those high-stress times. Now that you know of the connection between stresses and losing weight, you don’t need to strain much. The simplest solution is drinking of water. You can do this for yourself. However if your condition is wanting and you think that an extra effort is needed, then you can schedule for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Akoury’s care. On receipt of your case doctor Akoury will carry out an evaluation before putting you on the right treatment that will leave you lighter, hydrated and full of life again.

The connection between Stresses and losing weight: Water and Stress Reduction