Ten Tips To Reduce Stress And Lose Belly Fat

No matter what your age or circumstances, stress is aninevitable part of everyone's life and ongoing stress actuallycontributes to gaining weight. Elissa Epel, PhD and assistantprofessor in the psychiatry department at the University ofCalifornia, states, "While the immediate...response to acutestress can be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more weare coming to recognize that for some people, chronic stresscan be tied to an increase in appetite - and stress-inducedweight gain."Short term stressful situations, such as anxiety, excitement orfear, cause an adrenaline rush that temporarily burns fat.However, long term stress increases the level of the hormonecortisol in our bodies, causing the body to store excess fat.Most of this extra fat is stored in your belly and hips exactly where you don't want it.Although several products claim to reduce cortisol, there is nomedical evidence to substantiate those claims. A proven way tominimize cortisol levels in your body and eliminate excess fatis by reducing your stress. There are many additional benefitsof stress reduction, such as lowered blood pressure andincreased mental health.Here are several simple ways to de-stress for maximum physicaland emotional fitness:1. Eat at least 4-6 small, well-balanced meals each day toproperly maintain the sugar levels in your body and ensure youare getting all the essential vitamins and minerals you need.2. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water every day toflush the toxins out of your system.3. Exercise for twenty to thirty minutes three to five timeseach week. Choose a physical activity you enjoy, such asbiking, weight lifting or walking, because getting pleasurefrom your exercise routine will also help minimize stress.4. Avoid foods with sugar and caffeine that offer a false senseof energy.5. Avoid alcohol, which has an impact on the sugar levels inyour body.6. Get plenty of sleep every night because when you are tired,you tend to feel more hungry.7. Engage in activities designed to help you relax, such asyoga or meditation.8. Watch less television - statistics show that up to ninetypercent of people who watch television an hour or more each dayfail at their weight loss goals.9. Avoid crash diets which could increase your stress level andactually cause the production of additional cortisol,alleviating any potential weight loss you may have been able toexperience.10. When you feel really hungry, choose whole-grain, high-fiberfoods, like oatmeal and fruit, which keep insulin levels even tocontrol blood sugar and your hunger.By reducing the stress in your life, you can get rid of excessfat and emotional baggage at the same time!About The Author: Ryan Cote is the owner ofhttp://WeightLoss-Programs-Reviewed.com, a website that reviewsthe top 4 best weight loss programs & plans.http://www.weightloss-programs-reviewed.com