Stress is a major issue in our society today, and it definitely makes losing weight harder than it has to be. Based on the National Health Interview Survey, 75% of the general population goes through at least “some stress” every two weeks and half of those actually experience a higher level of stress during that same two-week period. In addition, stress has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and other health conditions, including obesity.
With this type of information and awareness, it’s no secret that we need to do whatever we can to eliminate and avoid stress in our lives, and it doesn’t have to be all that challenging. In fact, the lifestyle changes you can make to reduce stress, like the ones listed below, not only help you reduce and eliminate stress, but they can impact your life in a very positive way that goes beyond eliminating stress, it will aid in natural weight loss.
Exercise. Exercise is a great stress reliever. In addition, exercise helps your appearance and of course, helps you lose weight, which is a must for natural weight loss. And it doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym and pumping iron or running on the treadmill; for you, it may be taking a walk in the park or up the stairs to get your juices running to help alleviate stress in your life.
Set realistic goals. If you are setting unrealistic goals for yourself, whether it be in trying to lose weight or other aspects of your life, then you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary stress. Be sure to set realistic, achievable goals for yourself. And even if you miss your goals, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re human, so be gentle and give yourself permission to be human. Then, get back on track!
Set priorities. When we fail to prioritize, our minds can get all jumbled and things fall through the cracks or don’t get done, and then we feel lousy and begin to stress out. Or, maybe you need to prioritize your values vs. tasks so you’re sure to focus on what’s most important overall in your life, so you don’t stress about the small stuff that, in reality, isn’t that important to you in the overall scheme of things. And if you’re attempting to lose weight, then that should be a priority high on your list! Prioritizing also helps you maintain a sense of organization which is very helpful in managing time and minimizing stress.
Change your mindset and how you view the situation. Is the situation at hand really worth stressing over? Is it really do or die? Is it really that important? Step back and look at a situation from a fresh perspective and ask yourself these types of questions. In most cases, there’s not much in life worth stressing over, so try to shift your mindset to a more positive one, and not only will you eliminate stress, but you’ll also see improvement in all areas of your life, from weight loss, to health, to work!
Set aside ‘me’ time. It’s so important to take care of yourself first and foremost, because no one else is going to do it for you. It can be as simple as unwinding by taking a bath and lighting candles to get some ‘me’ time in to relax, or it might be a pedicure or manicure. Whatever it is, be sure to take at least a few hours a week for some ‘me’ time to help reduce stress in your life. This is also a great time to ensure you’re staying focused to reach your weight loss goals.
Again, long periods of stress without relief isn’t healthy for anyone, and it can indeed make it challenging to stay focused when trying to lose weight. By utilizing some techniques and pointers such as those listed here, you’ll find that the stress will melt away with those excess pounds, so take action!
Health and fitness coach Linda Parker wants to help you create a New You – a slimmer, happier YOU! Click Here to make it happen. For more information on natural weight loss, visit Attract Natural Weight Loss.