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Writer's pictureAkansha

How STRESS leads to Weight Management Issues in women?




The WHY behind Weight Issues and cravings


It's no mystery that excess STRESS is directly related to weight gain. Our adrenal glands play a huge role in stress regulation. Adrenaline sends us into a fight-or-flight response and then cortisol shuts down our systems in favour of self-preservation. When our bodies are in the state of stress and anytime food appears, it triggers an 'Eat it all' response because we may never have a chance to eat again. Which leads to cravings, binges and uncontrollable weight gain.


Emotional triggers and cravings

Consistent stress leads to chronic fatigue, makes our bodies feel burnt out, affects our metabolism and mental state and moods, leaving us with depression and anxiety. Cravings are our bodies' way of signaling neglect or hormonal imbalance, but we use them as coping mechanisms. Whatever personal need we ignore may turn into cravings to fill the void. That need can be physical, emotional or even chemical.


PMS and cravings


We are used to experiencing cravings that kick into high gear when we are stressed, anxious, or at a different stages in our menstrual cycle. We crave sugar and carbohydrates that helps to ease stress levels during these times. Sugar has been shown to diminish physiological responses normally produced during in the brain and body during stressful times.


We are prone to eat in different ways as our hormonal levels change, moods change and when we are exposed to certain emotional triggers. We condition ourselves to eat unhealthy food as a reward and comfort mechanism. When we celebrate, when sadness envelopes us, when tragedy strikes, when stress consumes us, we eat.


Managing the Cravings


The cravings won't go away until you figure out what the root cause of your triggers are.

To manage your cravings you need to differentiate your physical hunger from your emotional hunger.

We need to realise that WHAT we crave isn't as important as WHY we crave it.


Figure out your cravings


Did you skip a meal?

Are you stressed?

Are you bored?

Are you exhausted?

Frustrated? Irritated?

Are you emotionally drained?

Tracking your food consumption will help you discover these emotional triggers for eating.

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