Belly Fat and Stress, The Chicken Or The Egg?

You may wonder what belly fat and stress may have in common.

It is true that some people lose weight under stress but most of us actually gain weight, especially around the waistline. Too many trips to the refrigerator when working late at night on that project whose deadline is fast approaching? Need to feel better after that call from your ex. There must be some ice cream left over- right?

It turned out that a hormone called leptin is the connection between belly fat and stress. But should you accept the fact that stress makes you fat and sit there (preferably on the couch) with a large bag of popcorn (don’t forget the soda) and feel sorry about how life is unfair to you? Or should you do something about it?

Well- it is your choice. But I personally believe that no one makes bad choices on purpose. Bad choices are made by lack of resources and information.

If your BMI is normal check your waistline measurement. If your waistline is above > 40 inches (men) and above > 35 inches (women) you can assess your stress level free of charge. Because your stress is taking a toll on your health you need to learn how to manage it ASAP. Don't even think about a crush diet and don’t rush to the gym at 5 am. The only way to get rid of belly fat and stress is to identify the sources of stress in your life.

Letting go of stress can mean letting go of the belly fat. I personally believe that anything that requires an extreme effort and sacrifice of any kind is not going to last and the benefits gained through this extreme effort would be quickly lost.

By extreme effort I mean crash weight loss diet or overly intensive exercise that you have never done before. Don’t push your self- exercise should not be strenuous- it needs to be moderate but regular. Be realistic- don't expect over night changes. Be persistent.

Moderation and persistence are the keys when it comes to diet and exercise over 50.

Copyright Dr. Nelly Stoyanova

Reprint rights: You may repost any article written by Dr. Nelly Stoyanova as long as the article is left intact. Please include the author's bio and a clickable link to our site.

Author's bio: Dr. Nelly Stoyanova is a physician, medical researcher and health behavior expert. She studies the effects of stress on heart disease, type 2 diabetes and sleep. Her website: Belly Fat, Stress and Baby Boomers (http://www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com) evaluates sources of stress for people over 50 and provides great tips to balance your day-to-day stress and stay healthy.

Turn your life around and benefit from her expertise. For individual guidance sessions or to schedule a public speaking event use the Contact page or email at drnstoyanova@gmail.com

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