Have you ever heard the term “take a chill pill?” Well, I certainly have, and it gives you pause to wonder why someone would ever say that to you… Just what did they mean? In short, they are telling you that you are so stressed out that your thinking has now become impaired.
Just what causes you stress? What a “loaded” question that is…
Literally anything can cause you stress… seriously! If you imagine it as being stressful, then your body will accept it as being a stressor for you. Hmmm, now does that make sense? Am I causing my own stress? Absolutely! Think about it. What may be stressful for you may simply be an annoyance for someone else. It is simply a matter of how you deal with the situation. Of course there are many different ways to deal with your stressors as well.
There are so many “remedies” available, that it could easily make your head spin. Unfortunately, one of the most popular ways is to see your physician or medical practitioner and have them give you a prescription for something to relax you. Usually effective, but what are the long-term effects? Do you really like walking around in a fog all the time? No thank you! And to make matters worse, your body gets used to the “effect” of the drug and needs more to accomplish the same feeling of wellbeing.
Very similar to the “frog syndrome”. If you put a live frog into boiling water, he will simply jump out of that water to protect himself. However, if you put him into cold water and slowly turn up the heat, the frog will cook to death without being aware that it is even happening! Scary thought, isn’t it? That is exactly what happens to your body… you become so “used” to feeling stressed out, you just don’t recognize the signals any more. But most of the people around you certainly do…
Now how does this affect weight loss? In one simple answer… when you are stressed out, you tend to make very poor food choices. The stress hormones leave you feeling out-of-sorts, therefore you really crave comfort foods. How many times were you in a stressful situation and when it was over… or even during… you reached for some “comfort food” just to help you though it. And just what was that comfort food? Typically, comfort food equates to a carbohydrate. Not all the time, mind you, but usually. Bread, chocolate (especially for the ladies) as well as something heavy in your stomach will give you the false impression that you feel better. However, the worst thing you can ever do is eat while under stress. Your body shuts down the digestive process and that “comfort” food will just stay in your stomach not digesting until a much later time. A great way to pack on the pounds!
Ok, now I don’t want to take any drugs, so what can I do to alleviate this stress? You can easily take charge of your body through the use of your mind… actually in two very good ways! One very simple and easy way is to meditate. Just 10 minutes of quiet time a day meditating can do wonders to help reduce your stress levels.
Now another way, and my personal favorite, is to do hypnosis. The added benefit of doing the hypnosis, is the simple fact that weight loss suggestions can easily be added to the hypnosis session. Now while it is not absolutely necessary for you to seek out a professional hypnotist to accomplish this, it does help… however, you can easily do a session on your own. But if you were to seek out a professional, please make sure that you trust the person you choose to work with. Your results will be so much better when you are relaxed and enjoying your process.
Another way to reduce stress is to exercise. Ugh, did I hear that terrible word??? Exercise? Heaven forbid! The good news is, there is no need to exercise for hours a day to achieve stress reduction. Jumping on a piece of rebounding equipment… also known as a mini-trampoline for 5 or so minutes each day will help out in more ways you can ever imagine. You will feel invigorated and the stress will simply begin to melt away. Obviously, you can do that more than once a day for maximum benefit. In fact, spreading it out over the course of the day is actually better for you and your body.
Take charge of yourself. Stop giving away your power to others. When you do something for yourself in this manner, not only will you feel good about yourself, but you will also reap the benefits of awesome stress reduction!
Disclaimer: This information is for you to actually consider alternative possibilities for your success. Please seek advice from your medical professional before starting any weight loss or exercise program. Taking charge of your body is your right and privilege. Do so with knowledgeable information from trusted sources.
