If you manage many of your responsibilities all at once it can seem very routine and no different from any other activity you do on a daily basis. This however can create stress that’s present throughout your entire life. Work/home stress along with the stress that comes with other happy and major life changing events ranks pretty high on the stress scale.

Nearly all women are aware that stress will make you eat. There are two reasons why stress pushes down on your huger button.

1. Physical

Changes in your hormones increase your physical hunger. Your stress hormone, cortisol (responsible for the “flight or fight response during times of danger), rises in response to the stress. This triggers insulin to release from your pancreas – Which is not good, case you don’t want extra insulin in your body, but that’s what can happen when your stressed.

2. Psychological

As a woman you probably feel that food seems to be the only cure for feeling overwhelmed and stressed – especially after a long day. Of course, when you’re trying to lose weight, digging into high-calorie treats leaves you feeling horrible after the last bite.

It’s very important that you start to reward and comfort yourself with things that have nothing to do with eating or food.

“Treat” yourself with other things like:

• Going for a walk
• Giving a friend a call
• Taking help when it’s offered
• Take a long warm shower or bath with scented candles
• Read a magazine or book
• Listen to relaxing music
• Write down how you feel in a journal

It’s easy to think you can do everything yourself, but when it comes to your health you have to watch out for burning out and getting to a point where your stress levels are through the roof. Use the tips above to create that healthy balance of stress in your life.

What kinds of activities do you do when you get stressed?