Diet Tip 5

Diet Tip 5

Diet Tip 4 discussed the role of insulin and carbs and how that sets us up for fat storage.  Another hormone that we need to get straightened and stabilized is our cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands when our body is under stress.  That could be a major life event like a divorce or even as simple (or as frustrating) as driving in bumper to bumper construction traffic on the interstate.  Anything that causes us to feel negatively stressed (there is also positive stress, but we’re not going to discuss that here today) will cause our cortisol levels to rise.  If your cortisol level gets too high, you will notice that you start to plateau in your weight loss goals, you gain weight, you don’t sleep as well,  you tire easily, and you’re generally not your best self.  Even exercising too much can put you in an excessive cortisol state.  So what’s the answer here?   You MUST find ways to manage your stress and simplify your life.

You hate your job?  Then start taking steps towards finding one that you love.  That doesn’t mean quit your job immediately.  It means start preparing ahead of time, for instance, taking baby steps.  I’m not going to get into the ins and outs and job satisfaction here and how to get hired at a new one, but you get my point.

Are you in a crappy relationship that is sucking the life out of you?  Get out of it.  It’s that simple.  Unless counseling will actually remedy the situation, just move on.  I have gotten more accomplished and been immensely happier with just ME MYSELF AND I since I left my sh*tty relationship than I ever did when I was with that soul sucking asshat.  But I digress.

Start implementing meditation or other forms of RELAXING and destressing activities in order to bring your cortisol back to healthy levels and keep it there!  I have a meditation recording I will provide on the website this weekend if you are interested, so be sure to check it out!