Could stress be the reason you can’t see results? Does daily life such as your job, relationships or the little things in general leave you feeling stressed out? If so, it’s time for you to take a chill pill, or better yet use the best strategy known to woman (and man) and that’s kickboxing. Because fact is, what makes stress even worse is that even if you exercise and eat clean, high stress levels can prevent you losing weight.
But before you throw the towel in on life’s challenges take a look at our useful tips on how to beat stress-induced weight gain and then let me explain one of the best way to get rid of it!
Want a simple explanation on how stress affects your weight? Well when you’ve had a stressful day, you are hit with a burst of adrenaline and cortisol which tells your body to restore its energy, even if it hasn’t been used. When this happens your hunger sets in and stays that way until you’ve de-stressed. This is when the cravings for sugar and fat kick in. Plus to top it off, the production of testosterone- your muscle building hormone- is slowed down, so you burn even less calories and lose muscle mass.
It’s easy for me to say, “stop stressing so much”, but we know it’s not that easy to actually stop stressing. So if you do find yourself stressed here are ways to control the weight gain that usually comes with it.
If you stick to healthy nutrition all year round, you appreciate and enjoy good, clean food. So even if you’re feeling stressed, you’ll still make the right choice, because you haven’t been restricting yourself.
Eating when you’re stressed is like walking down the supermarket aisle when you’re hungry. The worst thing you can do because you tend to grab everything you can see and eat it. Slow down when eating. Really take your time to enjoy your meals, this will not only make you feel fuller, it will also lower cortisol levels.
Are you used to pouring a glass or 2 of wine as soon as you get home from a stressful day at work? The problem with that is, as soon as you experience a little stress every goal goes out the window and you end up eating (or drinking) more than is necessary.
When you combine stress with caffeine, it is said to raise cortisol levels even more than stress alone. Remember how I mentioned earlier that high cortisol levels can cause stress eating? Many see coffee as a life-saving ingredient to get them through their day. However it could be a good idea to have a decaf if you’re having a hard day.
Sleep deprivation is also a major cause of stress. It’s said that under 7 hours of sleep a night could result in an increased appetite and weight gain. Not what you want if you spend at least 45mins every day exercising to prevent this. If you do struggle with sleep, the best way to combat this is to ensure you do some form of exercise every day, so that when it comes to sleep time your body is tired and your brain is willing to fall asleep without putting up a fight.
Remember stress is only as bad as you let it be. As long as you stay focused and follow the above tips, you’ll have your stress levels well under control if you combine them with one of our most favourite training methods and that’s kickboxing!
Imagine you are having a rough week, stuck in a rut, nothing is going right at work, your ex did something that makes your blood boil, all sorts of stress has been building. Kickboxing is one of the best stress busters. As mentioned working out reduces stress in general, but that effect is increased three-fold as soon as you can hit some pads!
Our 6 Week Bikini KICKFIT Bootcamp is the first of its kind and prioritizes teaching all skills and technique through a safe and proper manner, while ensuring that it is still enjoyable and an effective work out. The quality of the instructor is one of the most important factors when choosing a place to kickbox, that’s why we brought in an expert with over 20 years’ experience in mixed martial arts (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Capoeira & Muay Thai), Alex from Maganga has instructed body combat, Capoeira, Forro dance, gymnastics and more.
Want more Info?
Head to http://bit.ly/BikiniKICKFITBootcamp and add your email and we will put you on our VIP list to be one of the first to receive information and registration details for round 1 launching September 5th. Please note this unique program is only open to the first 20 lucky women!
Don’t let your hard work, sweat and hours of struggle go to waste. Remember, you are a Vixen!
