The Stress Factor

Losing weight is harder said than done when your life isn't as simple as you might like. Life has a way of tripping you up and causing your plans to constantly change. With change often comes hardship. No one likes to have to change their usual ways especially, as they say, "cold turkey". That's the whole point of this blog, isn't it? Undertaking a commitment to lose weight at a certain rate by forgoing my typical American diet of high carbs, high sugar, low fiber and micro nutrients and everything else that is actually good for the body.  

This strategy is extremely difficult to accomplish for anyone trying it. Empty carbs and sugar abound in our food options at every turn. And we are addicted to them. But combine this habit of bad food consumption with high stress and you have a recipe for disaster. Anyone who has been under serious amounts of stress knows well that the easiest way to relieve it is through some good old tasty meal with plenty of bread and oil and sugar. Yum. 

Of course, there are those who are not bound to food for their escape from stressful situations...namely drug addicts and alcoholics. But otherwise, it's the food that goes straight up to your brain pleasure centers like heroin. And it can't just be any food. If it were like that, then how easy would it be to pick up an apple and chomp on that and some carrots all day long? 

No, it's a combination of the highly addictive nature of processed food, fast food and junk food along with our view of them as "comfort foods" that gives us the most sense of relief from stress. That's right, it's partly the food itself, and partly the way we look at that food that leads us to reach for it when we are confronted with unforeseen or necessary, but stressful, change.

I guess what I am saying is, if there is a situation in your life which is causing you stress, then try to remove yourself from it. If this change itself will involve stress, then perhaps it is necessary for you to be able to eventually be free of the stress completely. Say, for instance, that you have a job that is highly stressful but financially rewarding. You could stay on and keep making good money, but eventually the stress is going to kill you for sure.

Now let's say you decide to make a break for it and get a different job. This job won't pay you anywhere near what you were making in the previous one, but at least the stress factor is non-existent. There might be some stress attached to the change of job because it involves gaining less financial reward, which means that your standard of living might have to be downgraded. But not to worry, all you gotta do is simply adapt. 

No more outings to fancy restaurants, no more name brand clothes and shoes, no more gizmos and gadgets that you don't need. In essence, a total life change so that you can actually enjoy life, instead of clinging to your old habits which only force you to have to be tied to a high-paying job that makes you totally miserable anyway.

So, if you want to have a better chance of losing the pounds, get away from stressful situations as much as possible. Seek out proper stress-relieving activities, like exercise or meditation. And always keep an open mind to total and complete change whenever that change is necessary for your health and well-being. 

Here is a very good (and very short) article about what happens in our bodies as a result of high stress:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/255134-how-stress-affects-weight-loss/

UPDATE

I have been under a lot of stress lately, that is why last week I wrote minimally on this blog. The results for last Saturday were not impressive. I didn't lose any weight. But the good news is that I also did not gain. I stayed right at 254 lbs. This is a victory in my view, because I know how difficult it is to lose weight, especially when under a lot of stress. I managed to keep myself in line. 

I do not anticipate much of a difference for next Saturday, either. If there is weight loss, it will be because I will have incorporated more exercise. That's the plan, anyway, but we know that plans are made to be changed. We'll see. Small steps. 

Weight loss should never be a race or rushed. It is a long-term process that will involve a lot of pitfalls and false starts and a whole lot of setbacks. But this should never deter you. Always come right back to it, and never give up. You will persevere. I guarantee it. 

ONE DAY AT A TIME.