I get a lot of questions on “What is Cortisol and Why is it Making Me Fat?”
Well, cortisol is a hormone and when stressed these levels rise. Cortisol will increase blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and suppresses the immune system, which is part of the body’s fight-or-flight response. It has two effects on weight. At first it suppresses the appetite in order to do battle ‘fight or flight’, but then afterwards the cortisol will increase your appetite and store fat trying to get your body back into what it thinks is balance. It is thinking you should have used up the extra carbohydrates and fat while ‘fleeing’. It can also slow down your metabolism.
So you can be doing everything right as far as eating and exercise and still not be loosing weight do to stress and cortisol.
Here are some things to consider …
When your body is holding emotional and physical stress….your body is in defense so it produces again a hormone called cortisol. This will not harm you and what it will do is make your body hold onto unnecessary weight and make you feel ‘heavy.’
Now, with practice you can help yourself. You have to move with your body and acknowledge what she/he is feeling. Move your body. In this way the feeling will be less intense, and therefore move out of your body (thereby feeling lighter)…and when you feel lighter you make better choices in all areas of your life.
Cultivating optimum health is a way to support the intelligence of the body. When your body and emotions function optimally, you are better equipped to turn around the body’s stress drug—cortisol—converting it rather than storing it. Maintaining a state of mental and emotional well being boosts your immune system. When your immune system isn’t working properly, your body holds on to cortisol, increasing the tendency to store fat. The body thinks she needs to fill herself up to respond to stress. If you keep developing internal health, other aspects of health are likely to follow.
Make sure you are doing the right things to keep you healthy and as stress-free as possible.
Let me know if you found this post helpful.
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Tags: Body Image, Body Relationship, weight loss
Part One
Shall We Dance?
As individuals, when our relationships with our bodies are not joyful and easy, that uneasiness permeates every level of life. It affects us every day, even though we may suppress it…furthering the estrangement between ourselves and our bodies.
My experience indicated that instead of returning to the source of our strength, our own bodies, we look for answers outside of ourselves…and what do we come up with?
Other people’s answers to our questions.
Those answers work for the other people, but they probably won’t work for us…they won’t work for you, any more than your answers work for them.
Instead of seeking the solution within, we seek the plug-in solution—the super-whiz diet, the next late-great fitness program or expensive piece of equipment, nip/tuck or suck, or the call-out-all-stops rehabilitation program—when what we are really seeking is harmony.
Our discontent is our dissonance.
We are not fully listening to our bodies, and their wisdom.
You are not listening to your body, and your body’s wisdom.
Our bodies are magnificent.
Your body is magnificent.
It’s that simple.
“Movement creates energy and energy breathes life into your soul.”
≈Stephanie Wood
~ Shall We Dance? ~
In this section, you rediscover a joyful dance with your life by tuning into an authentic relationship with your body. Begin to communicate with her, teach her and learn from her with movement easing the dialogue between you. Once you begin your practice, your dance, you will find it so satisfying you will make it a regular part of your day, a habit, a requirement for achieving the happiness you deserve in every area of your life. By accepting your body’s invitation to dance together you will build a partnership with your body that allows you to meet every challenge that life presents you…with ease and grace.
You already have the answers—the answers lie in the conscious relationship you have with your body. She has an awesome intelligence. I help you tap into the knowledge your body wants to share with you. Once you access her knowledge, you join her in the dance of a lifetime. This joyful dance has been my whole life experience.
Want to read more?
Shall we dance?
© 2000- 2010 Stephanie Wood
All Rights Reserved.
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Tags: Body Image, Body Relationship, Eating Healthy, Top Posts, Uncategorized, weight loss
