Stress & Cortisol

[Goldenrod]

Howdy folks!

We've all heard that stress makes weight loss difficult. From what I understand, lots of stress raises cortisol levels, which causes us to put on fat -- specifically the belly fat that we all love so much.

My question is, WHY?

I know some people are "stress eaters." In tough times, they turn to food. Having a bad day? Eat a cupcake. Stressed out over an upcoming test or interview? Eat some cake. And of course, this can easily lead to binges.

BUT...let's say you feel more stressed than usual, but do NOT turn to food to make you feel better. Let's say your eating habits stay the same. Is it possible to hold on to fat (or even put more on) just due to elevated levels of cortisol? Is it the cortisol itself that affects weight gain & loss, or is it that elevated cortisol levels tend to lead people to eat more "bad" foods?

Anyone have any clue?

[Zib]

Here's an article from the Osteopenia newsletter I get about the many causes of stress that create cortisol. Cause of Osteopenia Stress | information, remedies for stress It is as you suspect the cortisol, not the eating binges.

Cause of Osteopenia Stress
Another Cause of Osteopenia Stress has become more and more common in our multi-tasking, face paced world. Unless you live in a quiet rural setting, you are bombarded each day with colors, lights, sounds and movement.

In addition you may find yourself feeling under pressure of deadlines or you live with a hundred daily conflicts: Should I finish this job now or answer the phone? How can I get home in time when stuck in traffic? Why doesn't the light change....that driver stop tailgating...the program load faster....my email go where I want....

So what is the mechanism of the Cause of Osteopenia Stress?

When you feel stressed, your body increase the production of Cortisol. Now Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands and it has some important functions:

It maintains glucose metabolism
It regulates your blood pressure
It governs you inflammatory responses
It affects your immune function
All these things are good and necessary for your health.

The problem occurs when you produce Cortisol too often or in too much quantity. Cortisol, in excessive amounts, causes a loss of bone density. (It also causes a lot of other things such as: hypertension, lowered immunity, loss of muscle mass, blood sugar imbalances, problems with memory and cognitive functioning (Sometimes labeled 'boomer cognitive decline' since this is a cognitive problem experienced by many 40 - 60 year olds who live or work in high stress situations),

It is a well known fact that Cushings Disease, which is characterized by the adrenal glads producing too much cortisol, causes Osteopenia. Well, chronic or excessive stress does the same thing. It produces too much cortisol.

How can you deal with Cause of Osteopenia Stress?
There are a number of ways to reduce your stress.
Spend more time in quiet places where you do not hear anythingor see flashing lights.
Meditate every day - twice a day is even better. (Take a meditation break insteadof a coffee break.)
Engage in repetitive aerobic exercise such as walking,jogging, swimming or bicycling. (Remember the the last two will are NOT weight bearing exercises.)
Take up a 'right brained activity" such as drawing or knitting or....
If your stressis chronic or if you have had it for years it may come from difficult past events. If so do find acompatible counselor and engage in 'talk therapy'. If you have experienced traumatic events, do consider findinga licensed EMDR practitioner (an effective short term therapy for dealing with post traumatic stress)
If you have Osteopenia or Osteoporosis, you really need to address this Cause of Osteopenia - Stress.
One additional means of addressing it is through holographic sound. Back in the 1960's I became aware of workdone by a researcher in the United States. He found that by using stereophonic earphones and playing differentsounds with special rhythms and tones into each ear, the brain of the listener could be entrained and brought from Beta (high activity/stress) to Alpha (the relaxation response) and even to Theta (an even slower wave length usually attained only in deep meditation).

Since stereo earphones had come on the market, he put the sounds on tape. At the time I bought some of the audio tapes and used them regularly in my brand new Walkman. Some years later, I moved and I lost track of the tapes.

But a month ago, I discovered that you can now download holgraphic sound to your computer! I listened to the sounds.And found myself in a state of relaxation and calmness of mind.

A mini break for stress reduction! Of course you do need stereo headphones for it work as it should. And I suppose you could burn a CD or put it on an ipod. But for me that is a bit more 'tech' than I can manage. The program on the computer is just fine.

If you want a way to reduce your stress in just a few minutes of listening, do take a look at:Holographic Relaxation


If not this, then do something to reduce thE Cause of Osteopenia Stress!. Your many efforts for reversing bone loss could be sabotaged by yourstress. Note that Tai Chi is also known to reduce stress...as well as improve balance and increase bone density.

[KOO]

Good question. I have been under heavy stress for the last month and while I haven't eaten any different or even gained weight, I feel like my stomach area is bigger than it has been.

[Kaimi2008]

I have lost over 30 pounds and I still have my stomach. So frustrating when someone asks if you're pregnant.

Thanks for the information. Very helpful.

[PalmTreeGal]

My understanding is that cortisol increases the laying down of belly (visceral) fat. It doesn't have anything to do which what you eat.

[LCShadows]

Goldenrod, as I understand it, excess cortisol leads to diminished utilization of glucose in the cells, increases blood sugar, decreases the body's ability to synthesize protein, and increases protein breakdown (which leads to muscle wasting).

Cortisol is one of the adrenal chemicals pumped out when stress triggers a "fight-or-flight" response. This response triggers your body to eat more, burn fewer calories, horde existing fat and quickly store new fat in the abdomen where it can be accessed when you try to outrun or wrestle that sabertooth tiger your genes think is after you. Unfortunately, in the modern world, we have the stress but not the tigers, so we never lose the quick 10 pounds or so we pack into that belly fat during stressful times.

[Goldenrod]

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!

Zib, thanks a bunch for posting that info. Sounds like exactly what's happening to me. I've been low carbing for two years and have never had the cravings I've had lately -- which makes sense, after reading that cortisol can mess with blood sugar levels and glucose metabolism.

What really stood out to me was the affect on immune function -- increased cortisol leading to descreased immunity. I've had a cold for a few days, and it's the first time I've been sick since last December!!

I'm relieved to know it's just the cortisol, because really, I haven't changed anything else. My eating and workouts are the same, and I didn't want to have to start playing guessing games as to which item I should eliminate and see if that gets the pounds moving again.

The thing is, I'm not *that* stressed. In about 3 weeks, I'm going to Korea for a year to teach English, so it's a big change, but I wouldn't say I'm "stressed." I'm nervous, but not so much for the change as for the fact that I just turned 30, and I'm still kind of floundering in terms of getting "a real job" and getting my life together. It's a little bit of stress, I suppose, but certainly nowhere near as much I was under in college, or in my first few weeks in the military.

Thanks again for the good info!