The Stress-Weight Connection
Stress doesn’t just affect your mood—it impacts your body’s chemistry in ways that directly influence weight. Here’s how: Chronic stress increases cortisol levels—your “survival hormone.” Elevated cortisol can lead to belly fat storage, sugar cravings, and disrupted sleep. Disrupted sleep can affect various hormones that regulate appetite. Leptin-the hormone that supports us in feeling satiated-gets reduced Ghrelin-our hunger hormone-gets increased. Increased cortisol levels from chronic stress can lead to metabolism changes, increase in appetite and a propensity to use food as a coping tool. But here’s the good news: When you calm your mind, the…
May is Women’s Health Month
“Sometimes the weight you need to lose isn’t on your body.” — Unknown When I learned that May is Women’s Health Month, I knew it was a perfect time to dig into how stress impacts so many areas of our lives-sometimes it’s very obvious, other times not so much. One area that might not be so obvious, is how it’s related to weight issues. As the days get longer and we start thinking about summer, many women will start fretting about their weight and want to start dieting. While dieting can work for short periods…
Why Are the Holidays So Stressful?
Before we dive into solutions, let’s take a moment to understand why the holidays often feel more overwhelming than joyful. High Expectations: Society sets the bar high. From perfectly decorated homes to Instagram-worthy meals, the pressure to create “the perfect holiday” can feel suffocating. Overcommitment: Holiday parties, school events, family traditions—it’s easy to say “yes” to everything, leaving little room for rest or reflection. Financial Strain: Gift-giving, travel, and holiday meals can quickly add up, creating financial stress that lingers well into the new year. Emotional Triggers: The holidays can bring up feelings of loneliness,…
Holiday Stress Getting to you?
It’s HoHoHo time, right? Or maybe not!? Ah, the holidays—a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration. Or so the story goes. In reality, this season often brings a whirlwind of stress: endless shopping lists, packed schedules, heavier-than-usual traffic, financial pressures, family dynamics, and an overwhelming sense of “not enough time.” Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Even though I love all the colors, the décor, and the anticipation of this holiday season, it can be a lot! I take joy in decorating the inside and outside of my house. I love seeing…
Losing Your Motivation?
Quick Personal Note The month of February is a special month for me. And, it’s already flying by! But I’m savoring all the moments as best as I can! Not only is it my birthday month, but it is the month of birthdays of a lot of people I know…as well as a couple of Presidents and, it’s the month I got engaged to my wonderful hubby! As I just entered a new decade on the 6th, it had me contemplating what motivates me and how do I stay motivated to continue to achieve the…
Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy Is Your Awareness Connector for Change
It’s interesting that Stress Awareness Month has been held every April Since 1992. Even though its focus is on increasing the public’s awareness about stress and its health implications, we still need to keep bringing more awareness to this chronic health issue after all these years. If anything, it seems like there are more and more articles, websites, help lines, etc on this very prevalent topic. No doubt, people experienced stress in various forms long before our so called “modern culture” has, yet we are now more entrenched in environments that have us feeling overwhelmed…