Stress In Uncertain Times

There’s a lot going on lately. Stock market is shaking, economy tumbling, pressure in the corporate world on employees is going up and the list is going on and on…

Genders react differently to stress. According to the American Psychological Association‘s recently released Stress in America survey, more women than men (84 percent to 75 percent) expressed fear about the economy. Can stress affect your ability to lose weight permanently? Sure it does!

I see a lot of emotional overeating particularly in women. And, with all the uncertainty going on in our environment, it just adds another layer of difficulty to an already complex problem: Finding your personal way to lose weight permanently.

We all need a little bit of relaxation every now and then. Astonishingly, the most effective way is often overlooked. Psychological research has shown, that we need a break every 45 minutes.

But what many people are doing is get out of bed, have a rushed breakfast, an equally rushed commute to work, and then they are working until noon without a break. Same goes for the afternoon and the way back to home. After arriving at home, the “homework” is immediately calling: cleaning, the kids, the bills, etc.

Get a break at least every hour. 5 minutes, better 10. And: Move your body to a different place when having a break. Sitting at a desk for working and having a break at the same desk does not give you a break.

Get up, walk around. If you had only three 10 minute breaks a day and spent those breaks walking, you’ve had 30 minutes of light exercise every day, helping you to lose weight permanently. And you would be more productive over the course of the day too.