Stress!

If you're looking for scientific information about how stress effects weight loss/gain, you've come to the wrong place.  I am not an expert or a doctor, but I sure that stress has an effect on my weight loss efforts.  I think we can all agree that stress affects the body and so it would make sense that it would impact weight loss as well. 

Some people are stress eaters.  Some will consume alcohol at times of stress.  Both of those will obviously impact weight.  I am not one of those people.  I actually tend to stop eating, which some might think would equal weight loss, but it doesn't.  When you stop eating, your body actually goes into survival mode and it basically holds onto whatever stored resources it has so you don't lose weight.  This is actually why starvation diets don't work.  Ok, that is actually scientific. 

I'm sure that we can all agree that this has been a stressful week.  (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, what hole have you been living in?  I don't really want to know.  Just go back and read my post from yesterday.)  I've been tense.  My stomach has been in knots for days.  I didn't really eat on Monday night, but I have forced myself to get back into a more normal eating routine since.  With all that has been going on, I really expected a small gain this week.  I was hopeful that maybe my weight stayed the same.  But I was pleasantly surprised when she told me at Weight Watchers that I was down 0.4.  I did continue to work out this week, going for long walks mostly, and with pushing myself to eat normally, that must have worked.  I am hopeful that I will see an even bigger loss next week. 

I want to thank everyone who has followed along on my blog this week.  And of course, all those who reached out to me to offer some support or to let me know they were feeling the same way.  I wish none of us had to go through this, but I hope that my words offered you some comfort.  I just know that I needed an outlet for my thoughts.  I don't always find it easy to talk about these things, but I can usually write/type and that helps. 

As I continue to go through each day, I think of the victims, those who lost their lives and those who lost their legs.  As I go for my walks, I will think of those who can't walk, those who will need to learn to walk again.  I will be grateful for all that I have and I will try not to take it for granted.  And when I'm walking and I just don't want to do it anymore, I will remember them and I will push myself further and harder because I have that option while others don't.