Stress is inevitable in life. There are the small daily stresses that make us want to pull out our hair & there are the long-term stresses that might weigh on us for a season or a lifetime. Stress can sit heavy on our hearts & cause everything else in our life to be filtered through the lens of that situation alone.
All stress that comes into our lives will try to steal our joy. Our hearts truly just long to live a life that values our relationships, with family, friends & Jesus so much that we never take these for granted based on the emotional roller coasters we ride.
All of our stresses, or even just daily responsibilities can also blur our focus on God. Resting in Jesus never means not doing work or having responsibilities but instead that our work would have value through Him.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. {1 Corinthians 15: 58}
Stress is real. Its undeniable power can cause not only mental deficiencies, but also physical ones. It can affect sleep, digestion, and the ability to function well in relationships, just to name a few things.
But can your stress actually cause you to gain weight? The answer is, maybe.
Many people do tend to gain weight when under stress, however the cause of the weight gain isn’t the stress itself, but the cascade of hormones released in your body when you are under stress.
The hormones cortisol, epinephrine & norepinephrine are released during times of stress. These hormones work together to create the “fight or flight” response we are all faced with when we encounter a stressful situation.
Following a stressful encounter your epinephrine & norepinephrine levels quickly return to normal, however cortisol levels can remain elevated over a long period of time. This is especially true if a person’s stressor is chronic instead of short-term.
Since cortisol is responsible for stimulating fat metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, insulin release & maintenance of blood sugar levels, if it is out of proportion in our body, we will have a hard time being able to process food intake properly, even if we are eating a “perfect diet”.
Cortisol not only affects weight gain, but it can be the cause of where your body puts on the weight. Research has shown that weight gains due to elevated cortisol levels tend to build up in the abdominal area.
Whether or not your stress levels will result in higher cortisol, which leads to weight gain, is not really predictable. The amount of cortisol secreted in response to stress can vary from person to person. But there are some things that are pretty common among most people under stress:
People under stress tend to plan less & eat more ~ Most people who are faced with stress don’t have time to plan or meal-prep their meals. This leads to eating out more or eating whatever is around to grab.
People under stress tend to be hungrier ~ This hunger is set off by cortisol & is your body trying to defend itself under the stress. Your internal body mechanisms want food for energy because it thinks the energy will rid you of what’s attacking it.
People under stress tend to sleep less ~ Sleep is crucial for maintaining or losing weight. Without it there is a whole other set of hormones that will be out of balance in your body.
Stress management is crucial for weight-loss or weight maintenance. Some ways you can help level stress hormones in your body are:
Prayer & meditation on scripture
Exercise because is releases endorphins which counteract cortisol
Seek help from a counselor
Remember when we are focused on Jesus, our stress can’t get the best of us.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river,
and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought,
nor will cease from yielding fruit. {Jeremiah 17:7-8}
Some of us are more prone to stress & anxious thoughts than others. However, in one way or another we all deal with a level of stress & our human nature wants to control those things. Instead, scripture urges us to hand over our life’s concerns to the One who can handle all of it.
Stress can & will affect your health if not dealt with. As long as we live on this earth, we will have to hand our concerns & cares over to the One who has told us He is glad to take it from us.
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. {1 Peter 5:7}