Dennise F wrote:
Margaret,
Sorry, but I have to add in a theory- I read your March post about not having lost much weight and how you were walking more now your property had dried out more. You have been through a lot of stress with the floods and your health.And I was thinking about the stress I was under when I stacked on a stone (6 kg) in weight in '05 and then another stone trying to lose weight (when eating more choc cos I got stressed). My partner once told me to "do the things that worked when you lost weight before." So what worked before? All the things in my last post, but more than that...
So now I have a theory- women hold onto weight or gain it when "stressed". That stress may cause us to eat more- sugar, carbs, whatever our "tempatations". I think it is a complex process where we panic due to outside forces, and our bodies respond by building fat stores just in case of the impending famine. What famine? Well, modern stress would be interpreted by our bodies as just "STRESS!!" and what has been the stress on humans for the millenia- we have evolved to deal with famine. Our bodies can't know the difference between financial stress, boss stress, self-esteem stress, etc, and compare it to the fear of not having enough food. It's all "stress."
One more thing I did when I lost 18kg on WW was believe it was going to work and relax and concentrate on other things like planning what clothes I'd buy at "goal weight." So, I'm just going to try an experiment. Daily: 1. expect that I will have stress every day- no surprises then. 2. Repeat to myself "I can handle this. I will think through my options and take action." Cos, really, I can do something, no matter what happens. 3. Repeat to myself "I'm on an eating plan which works (sugar-free), I'm losing weight." Now, I'm not one for mantras and affirmations. This isn't what this is about. It's belief. Belief in my ability to cope with daily stress so I don't need to eat to make myself feel better. And belief that replacing sugar with healthy food will result in a healthy me, who isn't carrying extra fat- in case of famine. Stopping the panic that is stress.
Sorry this is long, I'm just thinking this through. -Dennise
Dennis, here is an excerpt from an e-mail I received from a meditation site. Haven't confirmed the research, but it ties in with what you are saying. After I lost my initial weight (6.6 kgs in 4 months), I had to tweak my carbs intake, mainly bread. By Feb I had put back on 4kgs, but since then I am back to my weight loss, AND MORE. Just got weightd and am the lowest weight since I lost weight in 1991 (got down to 91kg's, met my partner, & ate because I was happy!) (it was more complex, but you get the picture). I've lost now 8.2 kilos, Yay, but now I have found my appetite control is kicking in, not all the time, but most of it. Yes, I did the Nekked Dance around the bathroom/bedroom, what a sight that must have been!
Here's the content, sorry no link, it came in an email.
A study at Brandies University has shown that the highest cortisol levels are found in older adults suffering from money stress.
Cortisol is the hormone that our body produces under stress. A little cortisol is ok - it helps regulate blood pressure and the immune system during a sudden crisis.
But when your stress is prolonged, or when you worry excessively over things like money, the cortisol in your body goes into "overdrive" and creates a state of chronic stress. In other words, when you worry a lot or "stress out", your cortisol levels can increase more than normal.
According to Prevention magazine: "Chronically high cortisol levels can cause sleep problems, a depressed immune response, blood sugar abnormalities, and even abdominal weight gain.
When cortisol spikes, it tells the body to eat something with a lot of calories--a great survival tactic if you need energy to flee a predator but not if you're fretting over how to pay bills," says nutritional biochemist Shawn Talbott, PhD, author of The Cortisol Connection."
Talbott adds, "Over the long term, excessive amounts of this "primary stress hormone" can "kill your sex drive, shrink your brain, squelch your immune system, and generally make you feel terrible."
There's a documented relationship between elevated levels of cortisol, chronic stress, and such health conditions as obesity, depression, suppressed immune system, osteoporosis, and hypertension. In high amounts, Cortisol can even kill brains cells.
But there are simple ways to reduce your cortisol levels and dissolve worries.
Here are several ways:
1. Eat at regular intervals throughout the day: Avoid skipping meals, it creates a release of cortisol in your brain and body.
2. Excessive carbohydrate intake creates cortisol release in response to constantly elevated insulin levels. Have complex carbohydrates instead.
3. Utilize stress reduction techniques at peak cortisol times: meditation, self-hypnosis, or simply lying on the floor doing belly breathing for 10-15 minutes can help to reduce stress and thus cortisol levels.
4. Get to bed on time. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
5. Avoid stimulants: Stay away from energy drinks that contain ephedra-like compounds and caffeine. Stimulants shift the body into sympathetic dominance, or the "fight or flight" mode. Stimulants can also disrupt your sleeping patterns.
Obviously it then went on to tell you the benefits of meditation, which I do, but not enough.
Margaret, I wish you every success. whatever works for you. I always say, everybodies body is different, & what works for you, may not work for me. I did WW in the 80's & lost 17 pounds in 17 weeks, but I had my Ma-in-law cooking for me, she was great. As soon as she went away, I gradually put back on weight, mostly due to stress. My late hubby had a heart attack, then was found to be suffering from angina. He had to eventually give up work, which meant I was then the breadwinner. Stress & more stress. Back then excercise wasn't highlighted enough, like it is now, how I wish I had gone on those long walks with him when we went camping. I used that time as a stress releaser, spending my time reading & relaxing. Now I know if I'd gone walking with him, I wouldn't have put on so much weight, or been as stressed. So I wish you well, keep on posting your results and concerns.
And remember, keep on spreading the Love
Silver Angel (Smile)
PS David, where's the emoticons?!!
