If you have been thinking that stress upsets only your emotional make-up, think again. Being stressed can cause you to add weight, probably making you more anxious. Stressed state of mind is one of the many factors that induce obesity and hamper your weight loss. Let us see why and how you can reduce weight caused by stress.

Stress And Its Types

Physical and mental response to a tough situation is stress. Stress can be long term or short term and it can be positive stress or negative stress. Positive stress enhances the level of your performance while you face a tough situation. Negative stress can cause just the opposite impact by affecting your health and performance. When you feel stressed while reaching for the winning lap in a race, it can be a positive stress that motivates you to come up first.

Chronic eustress and acute eustress fall into the category of positive stress. Chronic distress and acute distress are categorised as negative stress. Chronic eustress, the good stress, motivates you and it lasts longer. Acute eustress, on the contrary, is sudden and short. You are out of this type of stress immediately after the winning moment.

Bad Stress And Health

Chronic distress, the bad stress affects your health so badly that you are susceptible to various health conditions including weight gain, migraine, diabetes, digestive problems, insomnia and heart diseases. As you are well aware, bad stress can affect you psychologically. It can make you lose focus, anxious and sad. When you are hit by bad stress, you tend to overeat and this is precisely when you start adding to your weight and stress.

How Stress Results In Weight Gain

Cortisol and adrenaline, the stress hormones are released when you are stressed. These hormones cause your cravings for carbs as well as fatty foods to increase. Your blood sugar level increases as well. Stress influences your hormones to store fat and your ability to burn fat is reduced. Various studies have proved that people gain weight when they are stressed.

Techniques To Avoid Stress Eating

Since stress can work all the way down to increase a few inches in your waistline, it is essential that you stay stress-free to avoid getting obese. Here are some simple and effective tips to help you avoid stress eating.

1) Address Cravings The Right Way: Well, you are stressed and the stress hormones play their part. Now, you crave for sugary foods. Play along, but be wise with your choice. Do not reach for foods that contain artificial sweeteners. Instead, consume foods that contain protein and magnesium. Fruits rich in vitamin C can be the right answer as vitamin C strengthens your immunity when you are stressed.

2) Study The Signals: Don’t make a quick move before you study the signals clearly. Consider if you are indeed hungry or if it is stress-induced hunger. Taking some moments off to study your body’s language will help you identify the signs. If it is cortisol behind your hunger, you don’t need food to treat it.

3) Away From The Stressful Atmosphere: If you can help it, get away from the atmosphere that causes stress and thereby tricks you to eat more. You may go for a quiet walk or you may get involved in your favourite hobby to relieve you of stress. If you are at work and hence cannot as much move from your chair, remember that there can be no barriers for a mind travel. Visualise yourself in a pleasant atmosphere that is calm and soothing.

4) Breathing Techniques: Deep breathing techniques help to lower your stress. They calm your mind instantly. Sit comfortably with closed eyes. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Watch your breath as you do so. Regular practice of breathing exercises not only soothes your mind but also improves your immunity and makes you healthier.

Food might be a tempting option when you are stressed. Weigh the consequences of stress eating before you succumb to your cravings. The techniques mentioned above will help you overcome stressful situations. Regular exercise and breathing techniques will help to keep you stress-free. It is in your mind to control your weight.

Yoga is a wonderful practice that improves your immunity, makes you strong and of course, it will help you to see signs of weight loss fat. It does not burn the fat but it tones your butt to make it tighter and shapely. However, the overall effect yoga has on your body works to not only reduce weight but encourages flexibility as well.

Here are the top 7 yoga poses to tone your butt.

1) Warrior Pose I

 It tones your butt, neck, shoulders, arms, hips and ankles.

Procedure: 

  • Stand straight with a distance of 4 feet between your feet.
  • Let your leg foot take a 90-degree angle towards left and your right feet a 45-degree angle towards left.
  • With the legs in position, turn your upper body towards left.
  • Bend your left leg as you lower your body. Just lower it enough to have your knee in alignment with your left foot.
  • Bring your arms from the sides over your head and place your palms against each other without bending your elbows.
  • Stretch your neck by lifting your face backward. If you have severe neck pain, you may just look ahead.
  • Remain for 30 seconds in the pose.
  • Return to position and repeat the same with the other leg.

Precaution: People with high blood pressure and heart problems should refrain from practicing this pose.

2) Chair Pose

 Chair pose works to reduce excess fat overall and tones your butt. It enhances your immune power.

Procedure: 

  • Stand erect.
  • Space out your feet to maintain hip-width.
  • Slowly inhale and lift your arms above your head and place your palms together.
  • While doing step 3, lower your body to the level as if you were about to be seated on a chair.
  • Remain for 30 seconds before returning to position.

Precaution: People with arthritis and chronic knee problems should not practice this pose.

3) Half Moon Pose

The Half Moon pose firms your buttocks, thighs, and waist. It tones your abdominal muscles and improves spine flexibility.

Procedure:

  • Stand straight with your feet together.
  • Raise your arms sideways and bring them over your head to let the palms contact each other.
  • Let your elbows be straight.
  • Now bend towards your left as much as possible.
  • Remain in the pose for 30 seconds before you bend towards your right.
  • After 30 seconds, return to the position.

4) Cobra Pose

The Cobra pose tones your butt, abdominal muscles and it is good for back pain.

Procedure:

  • Lie down on your stomach with your hands by your sides.
  • Place your palms by the sides of your chest and closer.
  • Pressing the palms down, lift your upper body. Let the waist be on the floor.
  • Straighten your elbows as much as possible by giving your back a perfect arch.
  • Remain for 30 seconds in the pose before returning to position.
  • Do it twice.

Precaution: People with carpal tunnel syndrome should not practice this pose.

5) Locust Pose

It tones your butt muscles and helps your liver, kidneys, and pancreas.

Procedure:

  • Lie down on your stomach with your hands by your sides.
  • Place your chin on the floor.
  • Inhale slowly and lift your legs. Do not bend your knees.
  • Return to the position after 20 seconds.
  • Do it twice.

Precaution: People with knee ailments and injury in ankle should avoid practicing locust pose.

6) Bow Pose

Good for butt, tummy, and cures intestinal disorders.

Procedure:

  • Lie down on your stomach.
  • Bring your feet towards your waist by bending your legs.
  • Hold your ankles and pull them upwards.
  • Now, your thighs and chest are off the ground and only your abdomen stays in contact with the ground.
  • Be in the pose for 30 seconds
  • Do it twice.

Precaution: Do it under supervision if you have a severe back condition.

7) Wheel Pose

Not just your butt, the entire back muscles are toned. The pose strengthens your whole body and aids in maintaining youthfulness.

Procedure:

  • Lie down on your back.
  • Bring your feet closer to your buttock by bending your legs.
  • Space out your legs to maintain hip-width.
  • Raise your arms and bring them over your shoulders.
  • Place them beyond your shoulders on the floor. The fingers should be pointing towards your shoulders.
  • With the palms firmly pressed down, lift yourself off the floor.
  • Straighten your hands and legs.
  • Remain in the pose for 20 seconds.
  • Do it twice.

There can be no ifs and buts if you want to have a heal

If your weight has been weighing down on your mind, it is high time you considered rescheduling your life. The fast-paced world throws so many challenges at you and as you get busy to brave such challenges, you forget the very essence of life and that is healthy living. The quality of life matters the most and once you ensure quality, longevity will follow through. To ensure quality, you need to maintain perfect weight and should not gain even an inch more than is required around your waistline. With simple changes in lifestyle, you could lose extra weight. Here are 6 eating tips for weight loss.

1) Healthy Start – Have A Hearty Breakfast

 Having healthy breakfast not only helps you to carry the day, it also prevents you from reaching for unhealthy food later in the day. Setting out for work with an empty stomach is not the best way to go about if you aim to lose weight.

2) Size Matters – Small Plates; Smaller Portions

 Leave the over-sized plates for your guests. Reach for smaller plates, which will directly control your quantity of intake however tempting the taste may be. Your food might appear lesser in quantity when you eat from a large sized plate. You need to play it psychologically as well if you hope to achieve weight loss. Avoid eating directly from the food container, as you will not be able to assess the quantity of intake.

 3) Focus On Eating, When You Eat

 While you are on the table, pay attention to what you eat. Enjoy your food, focus on how it smells, tastes and feels. Avoid serious discussions while eating.

4) Chew Your Food, More The Better

 The hectic schedule, appointments for the day and meetings ahead might make you grab a quick meal. You tend to swallow it all up and head for the door. While the appointments or the meetings cannot wait, you could advance the time you wake up thereby arriving at the table to have a comfortable and relaxed breakfast. Chewing the food thoroughly helps with digestion and it also prevents you from asking for more.

5) Learn To Say ‘No’ When Your Tongue Still Wants

How much ever tempting it might be, it is best to say ‘no’ when your stomach is still half-full. Eating to fill your stomach completely is in itself over-eating. Do not wait for your brain to call the shots as it takes time for your brain to receive the warning signal. Practice moving away from the table when you are still ‘not full’.

6) Practice Stress-Free Eating

 Statistics show that eating pattern is terribly affected while a person is under stress. Initially, acute stress might result in loss of appetite for a short term but chronic stress results in increased appetite and this leads to stress-stimulated weight gain. Practice relaxation techniques like yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and so on to keep your mind stress-free. Eating should be a pleasure while it serves the purpose.

Obesity is becoming a serious health concern. Various medical conditions are associated with obesity. Hence, it is essential that you maintain weight appropriate for your age, gender, and medical condition. There are various ways to lose weight and you need to go for the one that addresses your needs. Practice the above-mentioned eating tips for weight loss to stay in good shape.

Combating the regular calorie intake is the key to achieving a rapid and regular weight loss. That’s exactly what a liquid diet does. Usually, a liquid diet consists of non-solid food such as fresh fruit juice, soups or milkshake. Liquid diets serve two main purposes; they clean your internal system by detoxifying and also supports rapid weight loss. Further, liquid diets are recommended for those who suffer from medical conditions that prevent them from eating solid food; especially after surgeries.

Experiments have found that in order to lose 1 pound of fat, you need to burn 3,500 calories. Liquid diets help weight loss because they are very low in calories. Since the intake of calories and fat is minimal or zero, when you are totally on a liquid diet, it would show a rapid weight loss. Further, liquid diets consisting of fresh fruits and vegetable juice rich in vitamins and minerals which is essential for your body, and also with cancer-fighting nutrition.

There’s a common misunderstanding about liquid diets. Most people think that liquid diets consist only of water, milk, and soup. However, this is far from the truth. You can make liquid diets a very delightful, tasty option when you add some fresh fruit juices such as watermelon, pineapple, etc… If you fancy something more spicy and savory; you can also try chicken soup. Nonfat yogurt and sugar-free ice cream can also be a part of a liquid diet plan. Fat and sugar can help in increasing the calorie level in your body, which in turn will gain more weight. Therefore, the liquid diet to be effective for weight loss, you have to prevent from consuming fat and sugar. Further, note that smoothies are also a good option for liquid diets. Smoothies can be made of a wide variety of fruits, and there are many different receipts those you can try, so that your liquid diet may become more entertaining.

Risks of liquid diets

Liquid diets can help weight loss in the short run, however, it’s not a recommended method for weight loss due to several reasons:

  • As soon as you stop liquid diets and go back to normal diet, you will start gaining weight. So it’s only short term and not an effective means for weight loss.
  • Limiting to liquid diets can make you deficient of essential nutrition such as protein.

Due to these risks, a liquid diet should be undertaken upon medical supervision. There are several types of liquid diets which are medically supervised and produced commercially. Usually, these diets consist of liquid diets followed by meal replacement products, so that they ensure while supporting rapid weight loss, you maintain the required nutrition levels in your body.

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