In my practice as a wellness coach, I hear this often, "I eat well, avoiding junk, exercise 3-4 times a week but unable to manage my weight" OR "I am tired and fatigue through the day. I get injured often while exercising" OR "I am tired but unable to sleep well and wake up tired again".
We are all under stress all the time. Too much stress will make you feel overwhelmed, and this is when you’ll start to forget your healthy eating strategy and fitness regime and this becomes a vicious circle. Our thoughts play an important role in our wellbeing. It's important to recognise stress, address the causes and find solutions too.
The result of stress is likely to be weight gain. But, high levels of stress can also lead to other issues:
Headaches – often caused by your muscles being tense all the time.
Hyperventilation
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Diabetes
Reduced Sex Drive
Stomach Ulcers & many more Issues
Stress may have the ability to save your life, remember, not all stress is bad stress but too much is seriously bad for your health. So how do you reduce stress and take control?
Relieving Stress Through Fitness:
Exercise is an excellent way of improving your cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and of course, burning fat to lose weight.
But exercise also helps you to relieve your stress. The great thing is that it can be any exercise!
Exercise Releases Endorphins
When you undertake any physical activity, your body will produce more endorphins. These are the chemicals that make you feel good and the reason why you feel so positive after exercise.If you feel good, you’re not likely to be stressed anymore, so even a quick workout can help. Students who do 20 min workouts (run, swim, cycle or skip) even during exams perform better.
2. Exercise Removes Tension
Exercising in the morning is the best. Mind & body is fresh and, you’ll forget about the stress of your other situations. Your mind will be clearer, and your tension levels will decrease.
You’ll find that it’s much easier to focus on what’s important and forget about the stress. Try going out for a short run - 30 min (even if you are not a runner) without any gadgets & observe how your day goes, how your thoughts change.
3. Exercise Builds Confidence
Exercise helps you to shed weight and feel more confident in your body as well as with dealing with difficult situations. You’ll trust your judgment more, and be better able to handle stressful situations, which will reduce your overall stress levels.
Deep Stress needs Deep Recovery.
Recognise : Start by recognising the various signs that your body is giving you, that you are stressed. Sleep, Injury, fatigue
Pause and Reflect : Plan your day and week. Prioritise what matters the most. Do things that are in your control. Take the Deep Health Test and recognise your stressors.
Solutions : Find ways to address them, be it physical or emotional stress.
Reducing your stress level requires few lifestyle changes and if you combine this will healthy eating and exercises, you will become a new person.