Stress and Weight Loss: 10 Fun Ways to Relieve Stress - Top Anxiety and Stress Management Techniques
One of the most fun ways to relieve stress is letting go of shoulds & shouldn'ts.
Looking for anxiety and stress management techniques? Use fun ways to relieve stress or depression symptoms whenever you feel like eating for emotional comfort - below you'll discover a list of 10 stress busters that are not only fun, but easy to do.
Why should you do all you can to relieve stress - especially when you fight extra pounds?
Well, if you’ve learned about the effects of stress on health you know how it hinders your ability to lose weight.
You’ve seen how stress triggers the release of cortisol, the fat-storing hormone.
Chronic stress (i.e. prolonged feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, resentment, depression, guilt) makes you gain weight – especially in the abdominal area - and stops you from losing it, no matter how little you eat or how much you exercise.
How so? Well, first, your body’s fat-storing level is at its peak when cortisol levels are high. Second, if you are like most people, under stress you feel an urge to eat sweets or refined carbs, like chocolate, cookies, pasta, bread, pastry, true? No wonder, since these foods increase your blood sugar almost instantly, which in turn, triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, the "feel-good" chemicals in your brain.
So when you feel stressed or want to ease your depression symptoms, instead of unconsciously self-medicating yourself with fattening foods, choose any of the 10 fun ways to relieve stress, simple anxiety and stress management techniques at the end of this page.
But before, remember this.
It’s true, you can’t control most of the bad things out there that trigger your stress, anger or depression; what you can control however, is how you react to them.
Being willing to change your perspective, not taking things personally, building up your personal boundaries help you diffuse negative emotions at will. Re-frame upsetting situations, stop judging others and learn to say "NO" - and you'll deal even more effectively with the stress-induced weight loss resistance that makes you unable to burn body fat.
Most of all, use any of the fun ways to relieve stress on the list below before you sit down to eat. Make sure you take 10-15 minutes to do something that makes you feel good and above all, relaxed.
Top 10 Fun Ways to Relieve Stress
1. Give yourself a quick self-massage on your neck and shoulders
2. Care for your garden or house plants or play with your pet(s)
3. Walk in the park or on the beach for 10-15 minutes
4. Meditate or listen to a guided relaxation audio
5. Sing and/or dance on your favorite tune
6. Visit the pet shop and watch the kittens, puppies, birdies, fish…
7. Put on some soft music and pamper yourself to a candle-lit bubble bath
8. Watch a funny video or have a good belly laugh with our collection of weight loss jokes
9. Take a 30 minutes scenic drive away from the city
10. Use a stress reducer game - not only one of the most fun ways to relieve stress, but a great way to end any anxiety or depression symptoms that trigger your emotional eating - check out this stress reducer game >>
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