Most of us live in a fast-paced, high-pressured society. If fact, in the U.S.,  there are over 40 million people suffering from anxiety and/or depression disorder. If you’re wondering how to lose weight quickly, one avenue to explore (aside from diet and exercise) is to focus on stress-reduction.

Weight-Loss Fads

With the number of people needing to drop pounds for good health, the search for the perfect diet is ever-continuous. Consequently, this has created a multimillion dollar industry with weight loss fads and trends that are always changing as well.
The bottom line is that in order to see and feel results, you have to be mindful of what you eat, how much, and how much physical activity you’re getting. Furthermore, stress and anxiety actually cause you to hold onto weight, especially belly fat, or even gain more.

The Stress and Depression Link

There are various ways that depression has been linked to accumulation of visceral fat. It can range from chronic stress caused by depression to poor diet choices. Chronic stress leads to an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. Over time, elevated cortisol levels produce glucose, creating an increase in blood sugar levels—which leads to weight gain.
So, if you’re planning how to lose weight quickly, then you’ll need to add stress-reduction to your “diet” plan. Of course, this is much easier said (and written) than done.
Anxiety and/or depression can lead to unhealthy eating habits and behaviors to compensate for feeling nervous, worried, or low. There are many triggers that cause or worsen your mental state. Some are:

  • poor diet
  • lack of sleep
  • no familial support
  • lack of support from friends
  • relationship and marital issues
  • financial burdens
  • other health issues

A Potential Quick Fix

Anxiety and depression have been linked to lower levels of physical activity. This can certainly lead to weight gain and excess belly fat. While it’s tough to get motivated to exercise even in the best of times, it really needs to be a priority if you want to shed some pounds and feel better overall.
You don’t even have to leave the house to get active. (Of course, getting outdoors can also help relieve anxiety and depressed feelings.) But, if you want  comfort and convenience, you can still move around indoors. there’s always music and dancing. Exercising to videos or programs on YouTube count!
Also, getting support is necessary. Don’t be afraid to talk to friends, family, a pastors, a rabbi, a therapist, etc. We all need to be heard. Talk and cognitive therapy may do wonders to help relieve your symptoms of stress. Some people opt for medication in order to handle specific mental and emotional challenges. Whatever works best for you is a step in the right direction.

How is My Weight Associated with Stress?

Especially relevant, for those of us who deal with symptoms caused by anxiety, we understand how lousy it can make our bodies feel. In addition, stress can wreak havoc for us internally. We’ve all heard about how it can increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, and disease.
Another piece of the puzzle is that with stress comes an imbalance in cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone produced and released when we get in a “fight or flight” mode. This imbalance actually makes us hold onto fat. In fact, excess belly fat has been linked to stress-related causation.

One Link to Lose Weight

So, if you’re wondering how to lose weight quickly, one of the healthiest ways to go about it is to reduce your anxiety and stress levels. Just make the decision and commit to practices that will help you decrease your worries and feelings of woe. You can:

  • get more/better sleep
  • exercise/move your body daily/practice yoga
  • eat a nutritious diet
  • spend more time with friends
  • meditate
  • speak with a counselor/a trustworthy person

Combating stress will put you on a path where pounds will shed more easily and quickly. It will also help keep you out of harm’s way from illness and disease. For more tips on health and weight, sign up for our Newsletter and check back in to GetThrive!
 
References:

  1. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=6386696&page=1
  2. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20905682,00.html#you-ve-been-feeling-blue-for-a-while-0
  3. http://www.nzherald .co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10816016
  4. http://www.naturestrinity.com/belly-fat-due-to-anxiety/
  5. https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/depression-and-weight-connection#2