Stress Can Cause Weight Gain & Effect Your Health Here's How.

Stress Can Cause Weight Gain & Effect Your Health Here's How.

Today’s life is faster than ever, filled with constant change, uncertainty and stress.





Because of the constant demands placed on us at work, at home, or we may really be in danger, our bodies respond like we're about to be harmed and need to fight for our lives. Our bodies respond to this need with a burst of energy, shifts in our metabolism, blood flow, and other changes.

STRESS not only affects your weight, but your health.

The stress hormone called cortisol is one of the reasons. While under stress, the fight or flight response is triggered in our bodies, leading to the release of various hormones.

We've known for a long time that depression and chronic pain are closely related in many ways. Both conditions share some of the same underlying biochemistry (related to stress hormones such as cortisol and inflammatory compounds such as cytokines) and people with depression tend to experience more episodes of chronic pain (and vice versa). Indeed, physical pain can undoubtedly make psychological pain (depression) worse - likely due to the finding that inflammation is known to worsen and perhaps evencause depression in many people. You might find it interesting to know that cytokines (inflammatory hormone-like chemicals produced in the body)

Conventional wisdom would suggest that controlling depression might also help to control pain - and that reducing pain would help to alleviate depression. However, the research findings in the PNAS article suggest that painkiller drugs may actually interfere with the activity of antidepressant drugs - potentially making depression worse.

4 ways Chronic stress can raise cortisol levels which contribute to weight gain and effect your health are:

Metabolism -- Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience. This also makes dieting more difficult.

Blood Sugar -- Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Too much stress has even been linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health concerns that can lead to greater health problems, like heart attacks and diabetes.

Fat Storage -- Excessive stress even affects where we tend to store fat. Higher levels of stress are linked to greater levels of abdominal fat. Unfortunately, abdominal fat is not only aesthetically undesirable, it’s linked with greater health risks than fat stored in other areas of the body.

If you remain in the state of chronic stress for a long period of time your health becomes at risk. One being high blood pressure, a potentially dangerous health condition.
“Stress can actually cause weight gain, particularly around the tummy,” Why? Because physical and emotional stress activates the release of cortisol, a steroid that slows metabolism


When your body is under the stress response, your cortisol and insulin levels raise. These two hormones tend to track each other, and when your cortisol is consistently elevated under a chronic low-level stress response, you’ll likely notice that you have difficulty losing weight or building muscle.


Food Cravings -- People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods. This includes sweets, processed food and other things that aren’t as good for you. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain.

Other Ways Stress and Weight Gain are connected.

Emotional Eating – Not only can increased levels of cortisol make you crave unhealthy food, but excess nervous energy can often cause you to eat more than you normally would. Have you ever found yourself scouring the kitchen for a snack, or absently munching on junk food when you’re stressed, but not really hungry?

Fast Food -- One of the big reasons we’re seeing more obesity in our society today is that people are too stressed and busy to make healthy dinners at home, often opting to get fast food a the nearest drive-thru instead.

Too Busy to Exercise -- With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to-do list. If so, you’re not alone. Americans live a more sedentary lifestyle than we have in past generations, yet our minds seem to be racing from everything we have to do. Unfortunately, from sitting in traffic, clocking hours at our desks, and plopping in front of the TV in exhaustion at the end of the day, exercise often goes by the wayside.

Today’s so-called solutions including prescription drugs, energy drinks, coffee, etc. aren’t combating the problem, they’re compounding the problem.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to reverse the pattern of weight gain and actually reduce your stress level and waistline at the same time. I recommend you take a yoga class 3 times a week, meditation on a regular basis and lots of good deep breathing.

A natural solution without side effects, Eleviv is NOT A DRUG
Learn more about Eleviv click here.

Eleviv is a combination of 4 herbs that work synergistically together to bring your body back into balance. Not a false energy, like many energy drinks or stimulants Under Stress Your Cortisol and Insulin Levels Raise.

3 things to include in your fitness to Slow Down the Aging Process.

3 things to include in your fitness to Slow Down the Aging Process.

You can't stop yourself from growing old,
but you can keep your body in great shape as you get older!

Studies have now proven that the natural aging process can be slowed and even reversed under the right conditions. 

People between the ages of 30 and 70 with many of the symptoms; conditions that were traditionally associated with normal aging are in fact the result of sedentary lifestyles.  

Our life expectancy in this day and age is much longer.  50 is the new 30, and while you may be eligible for some senior citizen discounts, you don't have to think of this stage of your life as the beginning of the end.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have finally proven that when you are over the age of 50 you can continue to exercise with great benefits to your health.  In fact, many of the effects of aging can be slowed down through a good exercise program and balanced diet taken in combination.   

1.  Cardiovascular exercises:  take a brisk walk in the park, go swimming, dancing, jogging, recumbent bicycles  and even a few jumping jacks.  Try a fun dance class, Zumba is so popular and burns lots of calories.

2.  Strength exercises:   are an effective way to build muscle mass and maintain your body’s weight. Did you know that there are roughly 300,000 cases of broken hip bones due to elderly people losing their balance and falling over? 




Doing a few balance exercises can help to strengthen those muscles responsible for supporting you body and keeping you mobile.  It’s important that you work with a professional that can help you to put together a strength training program designed for you.

3.       Stretching and flexibility exercises are needed to keep your joints working smoothly and stop them from ceasing up. These particular exercises help to increase the amount of movements that your body can perform. Warming up the muscles and joints should be done before any workout to prevent injury and decrease the amount of pain you feel in your muscles.

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It’s important along with exercise to have a Healthy Diet.  What you are putting into your body has a great effect on your health.   Many people believe that they don’t need to eat healthy or watch their diet because they don’t need to lose weight. This couldn’t be further from the truth! 

You should put only the best foods in your mouth no matter how much you weigh, what size you wear, or how fit you look.

Gaining muscle fast cannot be achieved if you continue to lift the same weights each workout.

91-year-old bodybuilder Charles Eugster is proof we can continue to be healthy and strong into our 90’s and it doesn’t end there.

At 85 Charles had a crisis. He looked at himself in the mirror, and saw an old man who was overweight, his posture was terrible and there was skin hanging off of him.  Charles said “I looked like a wreck’ Read Charles inspirational story here:

You can read Charles entire story by clicking here.

If you are starting an exercise program, I recommend you consult your doctor first to make sure you are of sound body. This is especially true for seniors who may have weaker bodies. When exercising, start out slow and gradually build up to a long and more intense workout as you gain strength. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you should definitely make your personal physician aware of you decision to start working out.

"It's never too late to begin"  here's another great article about  Charles Eugster 90-year-old bodybuilder  by Hugh Esling a fitness professional he shares more tips on senior fitness  http://he123.solobis.net/yes-sir-charles-eugster-90-year-old-bodybuilder

Why Starvation and Yo Yo Dieting Doesn't Work!

Why Starvation and Yo Yo Dieting Doesn't Work!

STOP STARVATION AND YO YO DIETING

Here's why:
The body reacts to weight loss as if it were starving, in response, slows our metabolism.
When your metabolism slows, you burn fewer calories -- even at rest. So it makes it almost impossible to lose weight.


If you continue to take in fewer calories, you will either stop losing weight as quickly as you have been, or you'll stop losing weight altogether.


After starvation diets, eating under 1400 calorie per day diets, when you increase your calorie consumption, you may actually gain weight more quickly than you have in the past.  The most devastating effect of a very low calorie diet is the loss of muscle tissue. Once the starvation alarm is triggered, your body begins looking for ways to conserve energy. Muscle is metabolically active tissue. Getting rid of it is the body's way of decreasing energy expenditure.

The solution is to increase your physical activity and eat 5 small nutritious meals a day. (Skip sugar, white flour and empty calories that don't fuel your body)


Doing so will counteract the metabolic slow down caused by reducing calories. A regular schedule of exercise raises not only your energy expenditure while you are exercising but also your resting energy expenditure -- the rate at which you burn calories even when the workout is over and you are resting.


With each repeated bout of dieting, your metabolism becomes less and less efficient and you can actually become progressively fatter while eating less food.

Don't be fooled by miracle weight loss, magic pill, etc. No Quick Fix to Weight Loss,

Don't be fooled by miracle weight loss, magic pill, etc. No Quick Fix to Weight Loss,

“There is no quick fix”.

Overeating brings fat and fat brings regret and makes us feel less about ourselves. Feeling this regret can then bring extra efforts and most possibly over training with all its consequences. It's a kind of a vicious circle.  Learn to control your food intake.

The most important thing you can do is to "believe in your self, believe in the process, stay the course, and you will look the best you ever looked before!"





8 important things you can do daily for your good health.

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Don’t skip breakfast.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, eat less food that is processed and manufactured.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

6. Sleep for 7 hours.

7. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk daily.

8. Smile more!

How to lose 5 to 10 pounds in less than 14 days.

How to lose 5 to 10 pounds in less than 14 days.

Are YOU ready to FEEL amazing!

Follow three simple rules and I promise you will feel great and lose those unwanted pounds.

1. Don't eat anything that is white.  White bread, pasta, sugar, white rice, tortilla's and most milk products. Healthy foods like cauliflower, chicken, turkey, fish are all exceptions.

2. Don't eat anything with the word wheat in the ingredients list. Even if it's whole wheat, absolutely no Wheat Products ZERO, ZIP! It's only 14 days you can do this.

3.  Only drink water, and herbal teas without sugar or dairy products added.You create a total imbalance in your body when you use these empty calories.

Saying “Sugar is bad for you” is an understatement.

Sugar is considered empty calories because it doesn't have any vitamins and minerals. It is no wonder you feel so sluggish and heavy all the time when this lifeless ingredient is found in so many of the foods you eat.

Sugar is rapidly converted in the blood to fat (triglycerides), which increase obesity, risk of heart disease, and diabetes. Sugar greatly increases the risk of dental decay. It is devoid of vitamins, minerals, or fibre; it is an empty food.

Here's what happens when you eat sugar:  First the body goes into a "sugar shock" spiking insulin levels and creating a brief energy rush. After the body recovers from the shock, it starts working furiously to recover its internal balance by the raiding of vital nutrients in order to process sugar. This can lead to our bodies becoming acidic. In other words... sugar can alter our entire blood chemistry research shows that just two teaspoons of sugar can throw off your chemical balance.



You will be amazed at how fast you lose weight with these 3 simple Rules!
YOU CAN DO IT!



7 Tips How To Fit-Fitness Into Your Schedule Without Going To The Gym.

7 Tips How To Fit-Fitness Into Your Schedule Without Going To The Gym.

How important is exercise to you? And if it's not, why not?

Do you really lack the time to exercise is there some other reason you're not fitting in workouts?




Exercise is just like anything else but, unless it's important to you,

you're never going to make time for it.

People who exercise don't necessarily have more time than you, they've just determined that what they're getting out of exercise is worth more.  Without your health, it's tough to enjoy life.

7 Tips on staying fit without going to the gym!

1. Buy arm weights for your home.  Arm weights can be used while you're watching TV or talking on the phone. Start with 8-pound weights and do three sets of 15 bicep curls each day. After two months, graduate to 12- or 15-pound weights, and add another exercise to your repertoire.

2. Buy a fitness video. A 15-minute aerobic routine is an excellent, quick way to bring cardio into your life. Or if Pilates is more your style, invest in a Pilates video instead. Either way, whether your fitness style is high-impact aerobics or intense yoga, there are lots of great fitness videos that you can use in your own home.

3. Use your lunch hour wisely. A brisk 20-minute walk during your lunch hour is a great fitness solution, especially if you can do it three or four times each week.

4. Take 15 minutes in the morning. Wake up 15 minutes earlier and do arm weights or a quick aerobic video routine.

5. Take 15 at night. Do 50 sit-ups and 50 push-ups 30 Tricep Dips before you go to bed each night or while watching your favorite TV show.

6. Invest in a good pair of walking or running shoes. Having the right equipment means you have one less excuse to avoid working out. Plus, once you glide into those comfy, bouncy new shoes, you'll want to run or walk practically everywhere.

7. Take a walk in the evening. This is an excellent fitness activity to do with a loved one or a close friend. Leave your cell phone behind and it can become a time for bonding and connecting with one another!

5 Reasons To Maintain A Healthy DIET

5 Reasons To Maintain A Healthy DIET

Be pro-active in your health, Be unstoppable!  But not obsessed with fitness. Obsession is harmful in all facets of life. We exercise for a better life, we don't live to exercise.

Your FIRST step in changing your habits is to change your attitude!

Change how you look at food--Learn to control your food intake and have more energy! 

YOU need consistency!  YOU need a cause!  FIND a cause that will keep you motivated to change.

Here's 5 Reasons To Maintain a Healthy Diet:


1•  The way your body feels after a healthy meal will become more important to you than the instant pleasure of having something loaded with fat or sugar.

2•  Take it from someone who used to love diet coke and junk food, you can live without chips and Cokes and you'll gladly give those things up once you experience how great your body feels after healthier meals.

3•  By not indulging every time you want a treat, you'll enjoy it even more.

4•   Food becomes FUEL rather than something that controls your life.  If you exercise, you'll learn very quickly how food affects your workouts.  Eating a heavy, fatty meal makes you tired and your workouts suffer.  Want better workouts? Simply you MUST eat better.

5•  Being a good role model for your kids or co-workers is one way to teach them how to live healthy.

These changes come over time, sometimes weeks, months or years of slowly working on your habits and choices.  

10 Major Reasons Why People Do Not Lose Weight

10 Major Reasons Why People Do Not Lose Weight

1.  Eating too much. If you finish what’s on your plate and then the plates of others, or if you always have seconds, you’re in trouble. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal that your stomach is full, so stop eating before you’re full and wait at least 10 minutes before having seconds.

2.  Portion distortion. Maintaining a healthy weight means eating the right foods in the right amounts. You’ll save yourself a lot of calories and a few pounds.

3.  Drinking your calories. Beer, soda, and energy drinks have no nutritional value and can cause dehydration.

4.  Snacking on unhealthy foods. Food is fuel for your body. Treat your body like the amazing machine that it is.

5.  Eating late at night. Late night Hagen-Dazs binges are not going to help that expanding mid-section. If you must have a late night snack, consider healthy alternatives like almonds and fruit.

6.  Not eating breakfast. A quick and easy breakfast that is a combination of carbohydrates and protein is all you need. Oats, Whole Grains Steel Cut Oats, Egg whites (with 1 egg yoke) Cottage cheese, fruit, and a slice of whole wheat toast will keep your engine running until your mid-morning snack.

7.  Eating whatever you want.  As an adult, your body’s metabolism has changed significantly from that of the teenager you once were, so you must adjust your caloric intake accordingly. To compute your caloric needs, click here.

8.  Eating processed foods. Too many hotdogs, lunch meats, canned ravioli, and frozen dinners and neither should you. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

9.  Not drinking enough water. Factors such a physical activity and climate increase your water needs.

10.  Not eating enough. Skipping meals or not eating enough at meals, leads to overeating later. Eating five to six small meals a day, spaced two to three hours apart is really the healthiest way to eat.