Weightloss Wednesday #2

Filed in archive Weightloss Wednesday on February 8, 2007

I'm a bit late with this week's WW, but it's better late then never:) For this week, I want to talk more about stress then weight loss. Stress and wedding planning seem to go hand in hand. How you eat, and how well you take care of yourself, is also a very important part of wedding planning. A proper diet and exercise plan can reduce your stress levels, improve your skin tone, and leave you with much more energy for planning and for your special day.

So - for today. lets concentrate on reducing stress. What you eat plays a big part in reducing stress. Food that contain high fiber and are carbohydrate-rich are said to increase the levels of serotonin in our brains - a hormone that relaxes us. Lots of fiber also helps prevent late-night binging - and we all know how stressful that can be when you're trying to fit into that dress.

Fruits and vegetables, not surprisingly, are also a great choice. They also help boost our immune system so we don't have to stop planning to deal with being sick!

FOODS TO AVOID:

Of course, there are also foods that you should avoid. For example, high-fat foods like meat and cheese make our blood thicken which makes us feel tired. Caffeine is also a no-no because it often causes a lack of sleep which is not great for stress levels. Another is sugar - and I like the reason given on PCRM: "The problem with sugar is that it's a simple carbohydrate so it enters and leaves the bloodstream rapidly, causing us to, in effect, "crash".

PCRM also includes some additional information on reducing stress and a whole section of recipes that are great for your stress level!!!