• What does stress do to us?
• What “dose” of stress is safe?
• What does stress have to do with weight loss?
• How to rest?
• How does relaxation help you lose weight?

We often have a lot to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We have to put a lot of effort into meal planning and preparation. We spend several hours a week exercising. We wonder why I'm not losing weight when I'm putting so much of myself into it. It turns out we're forgetting the rest that reduces stress and is an essential part of a healthy life and healthy weight loss.

Our bodies are programmed to regenerate regularly. We need a moment of rest every day and a restful, long sleep at night. However, a few times a year, it's good for us to take a longer period of time to recharge our batteries.

We all know people who, in the hustle and bustle of daily life, have no time to rest. They sleep for three hours, and every few years they go on vacation. And somehow they function. Well, somehow. Such a rush has deplorable long-term effects on our bodies. Fatigue and constant apathy are only part of the problem.

What does stress do to us?

The body treated in this way is placed in a state of chronic stress . It reduces the absorption of vitamins and nutrients, leading to deficiencies and, consequently, weakening our immunity. The immune system doesn't respond quickly enough to threats. It can also lead to autoimmune diseases.

Long-term stress is most commonly associated with heart disease. But it can also be the primary cause of thyroid disease, diabetes, intestinal problems, menstrual irregularities and thus fertility problems, and much more.

What “dose” of stress is safe?

Stress itself is an essential part of our lives. It's a mobilizing factor that helps us cope with difficult situations. It's nothing more than the release of the right hormones: adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol, at the right time. However, if the levels of these hormones don't decrease over a longer period of time, it's called chronic stress, which is caused by a prolonged lack of relaxation.

What does that actually mean? Unknown. A different "dose" of stress is dangerous for everyone. The fact that our colleague has been working at full capacity for several years doesn't mean we won't feel the negative effects of such a life after a month.

What does stress have to do with weight loss?

Stress is a chemical reaction that occurs in our bodies. Long-term elevated adrenaline levels in the blood lead to a rise in glucose levels, which in turn can lead to insulin resistance and subsequently to type 2 diabetes.

Consistently high levels of noradrenaline, in turn, contribute to obesity by causing cravings, especially for sweets. Cortisol also causes the deposition of fatty tissue, especially in the abdominal area.

If you think you already know everything about losing weight, you've changed your diet, remembered to exercise, and still haven't seen any results, it's time to look into your relaxation methods. Perhaps knowing how to reduce stress will turn out to be your path to weight loss.

How to rest?

As we already know, the maximum "dose" of stress varies from person to person. Therefore, it's worth avoiding prolonged stressful situations. It's best to ensure regular daily rest. It will be something different for everyone: a walk, reading a light book, meeting friends, yoga, or Pilates. An hour a day is usually enough to rejuvenate your energy. The important thing is not to think about responsibilities or plan your next tasks during the process, and to clear your mind. Sometimes it's difficult, but doable—practice makes perfect.

Let's add in enough sleep. Eight hours is often mentioned, but the length is truly individual. There are many techniques to combat insomnia, and one of the most important is to calm yourself down before bedtime. Turn off all electronic devices at least half an hour before bed: computer, television, phone. We tend to use them close to bedtime, which isn't good for our sleep quality.

Ensuring relaxation every day is very helpful, but it's not enough. To function properly, we need longer breaks from time to time. That's why we have vacations, holidays, and long weekends. Their quality is also very important. Whether they're lazy or active doesn't matter. What's important is that you leave all your daily tasks behind for this time.

How does relaxation help you lose weight?

In addition to disrupting the endocrine system and causing the accumulation of body fat, stress also prevents us from focusing on what's truly important. And while we're losing weight, it's important to eat rationally to lose weight. When we 're relaxed, , our minds work differently than when we're under chronic stress. Thanks to this, we have the strength and motivation to prepare meals, we want to exercise, and plan everything.

We often wonder how to start losing weight. Knowledge about nutrition is only half the battle. We often know what we should eat, what we should avoid, and the appropriate calorie content of our diet. For the results to become visible, all we need to do is organize and organize our diet, and harness our inner motivation. And how do we do that? First, plan rest periods. Only with a calm, relaxed mind will we be able to stick with the weight loss process and not give up for a long time.