It's possible to gain four kilos in a week of stress. Part of this weight is due to fluid retention. The rest comes from fat accumulation due to poor dietary choices.
It's hard not to put on weight during times of stress, as Teresa Branco, director of the Prof. Teresa Branco Institute, explains. "In times of stress we tend to eat (sometimes compulsively) foods rich in carbohydrates (cakes, cookies, chocolates), which are worse tolerated in this phase, leading to weight gain. We often skip meals, go many hours without eating and end up eating larger quantities at the following meals," she explains to Prevenir magazine.
"It's possible to gain four kilos in a week of stress. Part of that weight is due to fluid retention. The rest comes from fat accumulation due to poor dietary choices"
What to do to avoid putting on weight during stressful times
- In anticipation of a stressful time, stock your pantry with healthy products and make food to freeze. This way, you won't be tempted by unnecessary less healthy foods.
- Drink plenty of water - stress dehydrates you - and eat lots of vegetables which, as well as fiber, vitamins and minerals, contain an amino acid, tryptophan, which promotes the production of serotonin. Serotonin has a calming effect and decreases at this stage. Dairy products, poultry and nuts are also sources of tryptophan.
- Avoid exciting drinks such as coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages, which in excess cause stress; fried foods, because (along with stress) they promote greater production of free radicals; and sweets, because they promote changes in sugar metabolism that predispose you to putting on weight.
After the stress phase
Adopt new healthy routines. Include exercise in your life, stock your pantry with healthy foods and try to get a good night's sleep, otherwise you'll be hungrier and more inclined to eat high-calorie foods.
When diet is the cause of stress
When a diet requires great sacrifice, it means it's not right for you. When you lose weight, you should be happy and calm. It's essential to adopt a dietary approach that you can stick to for the rest of your life, otherwise you'll put on weight again.
