Even if you’ve stayed steadfastly dedicated to the diet and exercise requirements of medical weight loss in East Brunswick, a stressful day can sweep all that determination away. Stress is something we all deal with, but when its levels build too high it can ruin your motivation to follow healthy habits, pushing you to skip workouts or indulge in unhealthy snacks as a coping mechanism.
Though stress is an inevitable fact of life, you don’t have to let it ruin your weight loss progress. Techniques like progressive muscle relaxation are great for diminishing stress long-term, but can sometimes be too time-consuming for a busy day. Instead, it helps to learn short-term stress management techniques that help you put an end to stress even if you only have seconds to spare.
You can put a near-instantaneous end to stress during medical weight loss in East Brunswick with:
- Music. You may already use music during your workouts, but your favorite songs can be just as relaxing as they are invigorating. Even if you’re stuck at your desk taking on a heavy workload, it’s often easy to pop your headphones in for a quick musical reprieve. Studies show us that classical music has an especially profound ability to relax us, but anything you find calming can help, so make a playlist that can be easily accessed in stressful times.
- Positivity. Stress can make it tough to see the glass half full, but dwelling on the negative will only stress you out further. Instead, take a moment to adjust your attitude by looking for the good in your situation and using it to put your stressors in perspective. If this strategy proves unsuccessful, simply focus on something overwhelmingly positive in your life—bring a smile to your face by thinking of your children, pet or that upcoming vacation you’ve been planning.
- Tea. Though hot, caffeinated beverages like coffee increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, some studies show us that tea may actually lower them. In one study, participants who drank black tea had lower levels of cortisol and handled stressful situations better than others who drank a placebo with the same amount of caffeine. If you prefer to stay caffeine-free, teas made with herbs like chamomile are a refreshing and relaxing alternative.
You don’t have to let stress slow your progress during medical weight loss in East Brunswick—by learning simple ways to reduce stress every day, you can stay calm and focused as you lose weight. How do you relax in busy situations? Tell us in the comments!
