Are you exercising and on a diet, but still not losing weight? maybe its high levels of stress that's your hidden enemy. High-stress levels lead to the release of hormones that make you eat more junk food. Stress is known to cause anxiety, headaches, insomnia, and exhaustion but it is also linked to weight gain. A study published in the journal Cell Metabolism has linked stress to obesity and weight gain. “…if you experience chronic, continuous stress or take glucocorticoids (drugs used by patients of arthritis and asthma) at night, the resulting loss of normal circadian glucocorticoid oscillations will result in significant weight gain,” says Mary Teruel, assistant professor of chemical and systems biology at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Stress releases hormones such as cortisol which causes breakdown of glucose, fat, and protein which is utilised by the body which increases your hunger and you crave for sugar says Munmun Ganeriwal, Nutrition and fitness consultant. Pooja Thacker, senior dietician, Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai explained, "When all these breakdowns happen, there is a change in the hormone level which causes insulin resistance and increases in leptin levels, so that is why there is an increase in weight and chances of high sugar levels.” Here is what you can do to control your stress
* Get good, sound sleep for at least 6-8 hours a day
* Include adequate amounts of protein in your diet
* Weight train at least twice a week. Try incorporating yoga and breathing exercises in your fitness routine
* Eat within 15-20 minutes of waking up in the morning