Your Stress and Your Belly Fat

Have you found those last few pounds of fat around your midsection tough to lose, even when you feel you’re doing all the right things with your fitness and nutrition? Well, you are not alone.

Many of us have trouble with the last strongholds of body fat, and removing it requires a perfect balance of work, nutrition and rest. The truth is, sometimes we work too hard, under-recover, and, combined with daily life and work stress, we burn the candle at both ends.

Over time, this increases our stress hormone cortisol. Failing to metabolize the rush of stress hormones naturally can interfere with fat loss around the midsection.

Quote of the day: “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” -- Alan Cohen (#dailycalm)

Our nervous system has two main speeds: fight or flight response (high stress) and rest and digest response (low stress). These are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, respectively. Our goal is to pursue recovery actively and engage the parasympathetic side of our nervous system frequently throughout the day to create the balance we need to deal with stress naturally.

Stress bombards us daily from the moment we wake up through our movements, thoughts and even sleep. Our life choices affect the amount of stress we have in our body at any point of the day.

If this stress is high, you can get a stress hormone cortisol test from your doctor. You will experience many of the following symptoms (according to the Society of Endocrinology):

• Rapid weight gain mainly in the face, chest and abdomen
• A flushed and round face
• High blood pressure
• Skin changes (bruises and purple stretch marks)
• Muscle weakness
• Mood swings
• Increased thirst and frequency of urination
• Lack of sex drive

Stubborn belly fat is tough to lose unless you take measures to reduce your stress levels -- and that means all stress. Here are some ways to lower stress through daily habits.

Avoid This and Do That

Tackle stressful thoughts. Avoid thinking too much of the past and worrying about the future. If you find yourself having regrets of things done in the past and worrying too much about what is happening in the future, either one can increase mental and emotional stress, just by thinking.

Practice redirecting your thought to the present. Touching something coarse with your fingers or feet can bring you back to the here and now and help you avoid long periods of regret and anxiety.

Mental and emotional stress is real and produces a powerful physical response. Learn breathing and other coping skills to help. If you need more help with this, talk to a counselor or mental health professional. Reducing stress starts with your brain not interfering with your day and especially your sleep.

Control your food. Avoid highly caffeinated and sugary foods. Both can wreak havoc on the body’s endocrine system. Not only will this fuel be subpar, the hormonal response to what you put into your mouth each day can lead to higher cortisol levels. Avoid dehydration and not eating enough food; that also produces a stress response.

Try not to drink caffeine after noon and replace any caffeinated drink with water. Caffeine can increase cortisol levels, and so can dehydration.

Instead, focus on consuming good foods and drinks. Foods rich in amino acids, antioxidants, omega-3 oils and probiotics will help you recover from stress, rest and digest better. Drink about 80-120 ounces of water a day.

Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, plant or egg protein, nuts and berries are perfect additions to your daily eating to help you battle the effects of stress.

Control your breathing. Avoid short, shallow breaths from the top of the lungs. Avoid mouth breathing as well.

Focus instead on deep inhales through the nose and full exhales through the mouth. Work on your timing. I like box breathing: four seconds inhale, four second hold, four second exhale, four second hold. Any deep inhale that fully inflates the lungs (deep to the bottom of lungs) and full, prolonged exhales will help you reduce stress levels and heart rate in the moment, relaxing you. Mastering breathing is the key to success. Try yoga, meditation or just walking in a four-step inhale, four-step exhale breathing rhythm.

Manage your exercise. If you’re having a high stress day at work, family issues or other mental or emotional stress, the last thing you need to do is a hardcore workout that stresses you out physically. You will know you are doing this if you are working out like crazy and still cannot lose the belly fat.

Instead, consider a cycle of a few weeks of easier workouts with lots of mobility, breathing, non-impact cardio, light weights and lower repetitions. All you need is an easy cardio day of walking, easy bike, swim or other activity, and you are done. But throughout the day, go for a walk for 10 minutes, focus on breathing especially when you notice stress getting higher.

Fix your sleep. Avoid poor sleep hygiene that leads to disrupted sleep and fails to provide restorative sleep. This includes too much caffeine in the afternoon and evening; late, high-intensity workouts; too much food at dinner or snack time; and too much TV or phone time before bed.

Instead, get in a sleep and bedtime ritual as you do with your kids when they are learning to sleep. Bath, pajamas, turn off TV, play easy music, read for a few minutes and even set an alarm each night for when it is time to start this process.

Sleep is our No. 1 recovery tool. Get good at it, as it is most likely a major culprit in your higher stress levels.

Related articles to help you reduce stress and hopefully those last few pounds of belly fat.

Five More Ways to Reduce Stress

Combating Stress with Fitness

Sleep -- #1 Stress Recovery Tool

Stress Can Become a Perfect Storm

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you’re looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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