Does Stress Promote Weight Gain?

Did you know that chronic stress raises blood pressure, suppresses the immune system and can cause weight gain?  When you are under stress your body releases many hormones. One of these hormones is known as cortisol. This particular hormone sends a signal throughout your body to store fat. Most specifically it tells the body to store fat in the abdominal area. Cortisol has also been linked to heart disease and is an appetite stimulant. It stimulates your brain to eat more which causes you to want to overindulge in your favorite foods. We are all different and some of us are better at handling stress than others. I suggest that everyone try to identify the mental and emotional stressors in your life. Try writing down on a piece of paper everything in your life that is a stressor and make the decision to:

• Get rid of it
• Accept the stress and move on.
• Head over to http://www.dailyhiit.com/videos and get a workout in! (Exercise has been shown to release endorphins which are feel good chemicals and working out helps release stress).