Bust Belly Fat Caused By Stress

Chronic stress can lead to increased belly fat.

“WHY does this awful process occur?!” You might be asking…

Your body thinks it’s doing you a favor by adding more fat to your internal organs… for 2 reasons:

⁍ Fat around your middle is easy for your body to grab & convert to energy during a crisis.

⁍ Fat around your internal organs will protect you in times of stress or trauma [falling down]. I know, I’m not too happy about it either.

Guess what starts this process? ????

Chronic levels of stress. ????

AKA daily life right now! Your body releases stress hormones [cortisol] and they go to work releasing sugar & creating a craving to EAT EVEN MORE. ????

While it may feel like you can’t fight this process, you can dial it down by trying 3 QUICK & EASY stress management tips!

❶ Get outside! Research shows that 5 minutes outside can help to drop your cortisol levels.

❷ MOVE. Adding some mindfulness movement [yoga or tai chi] for a few seconds can help reduce levels & production of cortisol.

❸ Breathe, deep! Get your stomach to expand on the inhale and flatten on the exhale. Studies show it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just focus on consciously breathing for 2-3 cycles of breath.

Fighting Belly Fat:

❶ Fiber. Research shows that people who increase fiber content end up reducing belly fat. Fiber helps keep you fuller, longer…. which can keep you away from stress-eating or eating out of boredom. Try to increase your cruciferous veggies [broccoli & cabbage] or add beans to your salads [@swbeans are my fav!]. Beans are a good source of soluble fiber & protein.

❷ Alcohol. SORRY! There’s a reason why it’s called a “beer belly.” High levels of alcohol have been shown to increase belly fat stores. When you drink, you usually end up eating about 30% calories more.

❸ Stress. Increased stress = increased cortisol. Cortisol can drive your appetite & lay down more fat stores into the belly area.

Need more tips and a program to help you stay accountable? I’m here to help! Find out more information here.