Life Blog
Cutting-edge information and tips for creating health in all areas of life – wellness, nutrition, fitness, attitude, and relationships
June 27, 2024
Is Stress Affecting Your Weight? How to Manage Your Mindset for Weight Loss
Globally, health experts agree that incidences of stress and obesity are rising. In the US, recent studies show that up to 1 in 5 adults often or always feel lonely, anxious, or depressed. Similarly, obesity is growing rampant, with two-thirds of all adults in the US qualifying as such. As it happens, the fact that these two issues are on the rise at the same time is no coincidence. Health experts have found that excess weight and heightened stress levels perpetuate a toxic cycle, where one encourages the development and progression of the other. This is concerning since the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that obesity-related complications are responsible for nearly three million deaths from around the world every year. With this in mind, it’s important to understand how stress and weight are connected and how to cultivate a positive weight-loss mindset. Where weight and stress meet Although stress is primarily mental and weight is physical, they are undeniably linked, where one’s symptoms manifest in the other. To start, when the body is stressed, it causes hormonal changes. Chief among these fluctuating hormones is cortisol, which regulates the body’s fight-or-flight mode. During this period, the metabolism naturally slows. High cortisol levels also cause slower production of the hormone leptin, which controls feelings of satiety and hunger. Without enough of this, appetites can increase and lead to weight gain. Stress can also demotivate a person from pursuing weight management methods like diet and exercise. Meanwhile, eating is a self-coping method for…
Parental Burnout: Why Self-Care is Child Care
Parenting is demanding, especially when you have more than one kid because then you’re outnumbered! Raising healthy, happy kids is hard enough by itself but when you add all of your other responsibilities to the mix, life can become overwhelming pretty fast. Even so, parents rarely admit when they’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed because…
Learn MoreFoods That Should Lose Their Health Halo
Some foods are wearing a “healthy” halo they don’t deserve. People mistakenly believe they’re the healthier option because that’s what the commercial claimed, and they eat them without question. Not all “health foods” are healthy but are considered healthy because of clever marketing. For instance, due to a successful marketing campaign in the 90s, many…
Learn MoreWhat TV Gets Wrong About Mental Illness
More than 45 million Americans experience mental illness every year. That’s about 1 in 5 adults. There’s so much stigma surrounding this ailment that people go to great lengths to hide their mental health condition, including failing to seek or dropping out of treatment. A huge chunk of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding mental…
Learn MoreBio-individuality: Is There A Best Diet or Workout Routine?
It’s SO confusing! With so many new diets and workout routines popping up all over the place, especially around January 1, it’s hard to know which is the “right” one. Should we go with Paleo? Gluten-free? Vegan? Vegetarian? Should we join a spin class, buy a Peloton, take up Pilates, enroll in yoga, or become…
Learn MoreUnderstanding Autism
1 in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a group of conditions known to cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges. They include autism – which is the most common, Asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Early Symptoms Autism appears in early childhood. Symptoms typically include: Communication problems such as speech…
Learn MoreThere’s an App for That!
We’re living in the age of health and fitness technology. From the fitness bands telling us how our workout is going to the calorie trackers telling us how our diet is coming along, technology has earned its place in health and fitness. There are hundreds of thousands of fitness apps in the app stores, with…
Learn MoreAre You Emotionally Fit?
Physical fitness gets a lot of attention and for good reason. It can literally keep the doctor away by preventing obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other diseases that are caused by unhealthy lifestyles. However, being physically fit is only half the battle; the other half is emotional fitness. What is Emotional Fitness? Do…
Learn MoreStaying Fit After 40!
After 40, some parts of our bodies become tighter and stiffer while others become rounder and squishier! There are a couple of reasons why this happens. The metabolism slows by about 5% every decade after the age of 40. You will have to eat 100 calories less every day to maintain your weight, and much…
Learn MoreTeen Mental Health & Social Media
Social media is a big part of the lives of teens today. It provides them with a sense of community and enables them to connect with people worldwide. However, social media is not all sunshine and roses. Studies suggest that heavy social media usage is likelier to develop a negative body image, low self-esteem, and…
Learn MoreThe Truth About Bipolar
The term “bipolar” is sometimes used in jest to describe personality traits. However, bipolar is a serious disorder that affects more than 5 million Americans. It’s a brain disorder that causes manic-depressive episodes, which are characterized by unusual and extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These episodes can affect a person’s ability to…
Learn MorePut Away The Scale (for now)!
Tracking your weight can be frustrating, especially if you have more than a few pounds to lose. Besides, body weight can fluctuate by a few pounds a day, making it even more frustrating! When you’re thirsty, your body panics and retains water, causing you to weigh more. When you’re adequately hydrated, your body drops the…
Learn More5 Reasons Pet Owners Are Healthier & Happier!
Pets. There’s just something about them that makes us feel good! So good, in fact, that pet owners visit their doctor less often than non-pet owners. While this is true, few people know the reasons why, until now. Healthier Heart and Lower Blood Pressure Pet ownership, especially dog ownership, is associated with a lower risk…
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