When we feel prolonged stress, the stress hormone cortisol causes cravings for high-sugar and high-fat foods. The foods like fries, chips, chocolate, cookies, candy, and sweet drinks trigger a calming effect by raising serotonin and dopamine levels. But this eating pattern sets the stage for weight gain and chronic illness. If you’ve been a victim to this, you need to look at weight loss compassionately, not harshly. Lasting weight loss is about making sustainable changes. This process is slow and steady. Instead of relying on outside authority, you need to focus on your own awareness, senses and wisdom. Instead of being punitive and rigid you need to be compassionate and flexible, taking your personal circumstances into account. Don’t make it all or nothing. If you have an unhealthy lunch, it’s not ‘game over’. You can get back on track at dinnertime. Try this and you will experience a great deal more freedom and flexibility in your journey to sustained weight loss and healthy lifestyle.
