At some point in our lives, we will struggle with our weight in some form or fashion. The pressure to be thin in our society is tremendous, but it is only one of the many pressures we face on a daily basis. This may be why many women put their health on the back-burner to be better mothers, wives, and employees. Especially around the holidays, the accrued stress of it all can literally begin to weigh in. Studies have shown that the effects of stress may actually cause weight gain. Before you spend money on trainers, gadgets, cosmetic procedures or supplements to try to lose those stubborn pounds, try to trim off some of the stress first.
Model Photo
For decades, researchers have studied the effects of stress on the body and one of the most astounding finds has been that it can actually trigger weight gain. WebMD.com reports that researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia found a molecule the body releases when stressed called NPY (neuropeptide Y) that appears to unlock certain receptors in fat cells, causing them to grow in both size and number.
To test this observation, the studies included 2 groups of mice: stressed and unstressed. In these 2 groups, each were divided into 2 further groups, one that was fed regular food and the other a fatty, high-sugar comfort food diet. The unstressed group that was fed the higher fat, high sugar diet gained weight but what was surprising was that the stressed group of mice that was also on the high fat/high sugar diet developed more body fat than the unstressed mice that were fed the same diet. According to the studies, being under stress may cause more weight gain to occur, regardless of diet. Therefore, it stands to say that the stress of the holidays may be worse for your figure than bad food!
This is not to say we should fore-go Christmas chores and To-Dos nor should you indulge in naughty food that tastes nice. The most important thing to manage stress during the holidays is to pace yourself, give yourself plenty of time to complete your tasks and above all, do not get sucked into the hype of the holidays. Beyond the commercialized aspect of the holidays, it is important to remember that true holiday spirit is all about good times with the people you love.
Make sure that on top of your already busy schedule, between the shopping trips, phone calls, and party-planning, you plan peaceful quality time with your family. Make buying a Christmas tree a family outing this year. Go see the Nutcracker ballet. Have a holiday movie night and check out some new Christmas movies or some old classics. Involve everyone in cooking - make it a fun and relaxed event.
There is much to enjoy about the holidays. Do not get caught up in the stress of holiday hype, make time to relax with your family and loved ones and you won't have to worry about weight gain from holiday stress or excess food. Stop and smell the the holly, enjoy making unforgettable memories - make it the best time of the year and not the most stressed out time of the year.
