How can stress affect my weight and eating habits?

One of the most important things I can teach you is that 98 percent of the hunger we feel is head hunger, not real hunger. That usually means we are stressed, and most of us over eat when we are stressed and anxious. The solution here is not to eat when you feel that way because we will almost always over eat on the wrong things.

Did you know: Eating when you're stressed in the number-one cause of fat storage around your waist? When we are stressed, our cortisol rises and that makes fat run to your stomach to be stored!
 
Freeze and do an assessment of what you're really feeling. Most times it's not about food but about being tired and anxious. Food doesn't fix those things; it becomes the problem!

This is one of the top reasons we are overweight in the US. We are over-stressed and we all think we can fix this with a magic pill or food, but the truth is it's all in our head! Here are three things you can do to help you eat less and lose more weight. The best part is, it's guaranteed to work and all you have to do is do it!

Here are three things you can do to help you eat less and lose more weight. The best part is, it's guaranteed to work and all you have to do is do it!
 

• Step 1: Stop and take 3-5 deep breaths and ask yourself how you feel. No matter what you're feeling, it will pass if you can wait 3-5 minutes before reaching for food. Take as many deep breaths as you need to get back to a more balanced place. Deep breathing is also one of the best ways to lower your cortisol levels and slim your waistline! Do not eat until you feel in control. Don't worry -- you won't starve!
• Step 2: Grab a glass of water; if that doesn't work, make it two! Hot water or hot tea works wonders to fill you up and is very soothing to calm your nerves. Try water with bubbles like Perrier to fill up your belly with air. Did you know: Being dehydrated slows your metabolism 3-5% and mimics hunger?
• Step 3: Studies show that taking a supplement like white kidney bean extract or drinking a protein shake one hour before your meal makes you feel full, and you end up eating 25 percent less. My supplements are layered with high quality ingredients that keep you feeling full, and block fat and carbs from being absorbed; such supplements also include B complex vitamins to help ease stress and anxiety that cause these cravings to begin with.

There are several ways stress can affects weight and eating. Stress causes many people to stress eat. Stress eating is a type of emotional eating, which contributes to excess calories and when done often enough causes weight gain. In addition, the type so food people crave when stressed are generally high fat/sugary foods. Another way stress affects eating has to do with sleeping patterns. When someone is stressed they generally sleep less. Less sleep, chronic fatigue causes the hormone ghrelin to rise. Ghrelin is the primary hunger hormone, and causes someone to feel hungry even when they don’t need to eat.