Most of us deal with some sort of stress in life.

You heard that right.

Here’s how stress can cause weight gain.

woman stressed on floor, concept of ways stress can cause weight gain

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Compromised sleep patterns

A good night’s rest is important for a multitude of health reasons.

Burak tells us, “Stress and sleep quality can typically go hand in hand.

This can negatively impact your metabolism and food choices.

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2.

Heythat’s why they call it comfort food.

Stress can lead to emotional eating, which can cause unwanted weight gain.

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3.

Heightened cortisol levels

Whenever you’re stressed, your cortisol (stress hormone) levels rise.

And you guessed itthat affects your metabolism in a negative way.

woman covering her eyes feeling stressed, concept of ways to relieve stress in less than five minutes

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“Research has demonstrated thatcortisol can slow down metabolism, making weight management more challenging,” Young explains.

“Additionally, cortisol can promote fat accumulation, further contributing to weight gain.”

This helps them utilize it as a source of energy.

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Did you know that being chronically stressed can decrease insulin effectiveness?

That includes gym time.

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6.

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Not planning healthy meals

A stressful week can lead to not making the healthiest meal choices.

1.

Think about the area of your life that’s causing you stress, and make necessary adjustments.

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For example, figure out ways to add more movement to your life.”

ensure you carve out plenty of “you” time.

It’s really important to not miss your exercise routineeven if you have to shorten it a bit.

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2.

Keep a food and mood journal.

A good number of eating habits are the result of boredom, procrastination, and emotions.

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It’s really important to be mindful of what causes your bad habits.

Burak suggests, “Think about keeping a food journal to track your food and mood.

Find natural stress relievers that help.

drink tea and read book at night before bed

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Another tip from Burak?

Start experimenting with natural stress relievers.