Did you know that fretting about holiday spending could make you pile on extra pounds?
A nine-year study published in American Journal of Epidemiology found that financial strain is one of the top reasons for weight gain, especially in people who are already over-weight.
The likely reason? Levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to increased cravings and hunger, may shoot up faster and stay elevated longer in those who are overweight, says study coauthor Jason Block, M.D., M.P.H., of Harvard Medical School.
Save your sanity and your waistline by budgeting how much money you’re going to spend this season–and stick to it. Don’t allow the pressure of Christmas to back you in a corner. Go into 2010 with less stress and a happier outlook on your life. Below are a few ways stress happens.
What happens when you are stressed?
Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight stress response.
Some stress is normal and even useful. Stress can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it can help you win a race or finish an important job on time.
But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have bad effects. It can be linked to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, and trouble sleeping. It can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off disease. If you already have a health problem, stress may make it worse. It can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Your relationships may suffer, and you may not do well at work or school.
What can you do about stress?
The good news is that you can learn ways to manage stress. To get stress under control:
- Find out what is causing stress in your life.
- Look for ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
- Learn healthy ways to relieve stress or reduce its harmful effects.
How can you avoid stress?
Stress is a fact of life for most people. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can look for ways to lower it.
You might try some of these ideas:
- Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if you make a schedule. Think about which things are most important, and do those first.
- Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be honest about what works and what does not. Think about other things that might work better.
- Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don’t smoke. Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to stop the thoughts. Work on letting go of things you cannot change. Learn to say “no.”
- Speak up. Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns creates stress and can make negative feelings worse. Assertive communication can help you express how you feel in a thoughtful, tactful way.
- Ask for help. People who have a strong network of family and friends manage stress better.
Live stress free this Holiday Season
For more from Latwanas, read her personal blog and follow her on twitter
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Discover Six Stress-Freeing Secrets For The Holidays was originally published on elev8.hellobeautiful.com
