Stress Management and Weight Loss

Tuesday, August 6, 2013



Stress can affect your health journey in a negative way. In order to lose weight successfully and be a healthier person, I made the decision to manage my stress level. Stress sucks but it's part of life. The stand I took against it led me to the decision to Run-Pray-Talk:

Run - exercise makes you feel better immediately because it pumps up your endorphins. It also clears your mind like nothing else can. Exercise has been called 'meditation in motion' for that reason, it helps you take care of your anxious feelings. Regular exercise increases your self-confidence, helps your sleep better which eases your stress levels. Read a complete Mayo Clinic Article on stress and exercise here.
Pray - I realized that in order to fight and win the battle against stress, it's wise to use the correct weapons. Praying the Word of God is my favorite weapon in my moments of desperate stress. Here is further proof: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 Whether you pray it, sing it, confess it or meditate on it, the Word of God is effective every time. I often encourage my friends to find at least 5 Bible verses related to the problem they are going through and pray it often. I have a couple of Bible verses posted in my kitchen counter ready for me to use when I start getting stressed about something. The Word of God is effective and it brings real peace. 
Talk - I believe it's important to verbalize what you are feeling. Counseling is a healthy place to do that. It's not secret that I am a fan of counseling because it has changed the quality of my life. When I had my first big battle with stress, I was taking care of the side effects but I didn't find out the root reason of my problem until I went for counseling. If you are stressed now, no matter what the issue is, please don't be silent. It is important to find someone to help you process and navigate your stressful situation in a healthy way. If you are not quite convinced that Counseling is for you, listen to my interview with a professional counselor. 

It's impossible for me to tell you that a simple eating plan is all it took for me to lose weight. Life is way more complex than that. If stress is present in your life, everything is pretty much out of balance, including your eating habits. God has helped me manage my stress with the Run-Pray-Talk formula and thus have a higher quality of life. We will all experience stressful seasons in our lives but remember, we were not meant to live there.
Previously in this Series:
Behavior Modification and Weight Loss
Mind Renewal and Weight Loss
Education and Weight Loss