Are you suddenly feeling like you have gained a lot of weight the past year or two? It may feel like you are trying the same things to lose weight that you tried before but nothing is working. I promise you, you are not alone.
Many people I encounter have been expressing the same concern. "I am so tired, all of the time", "I cannot seem to stay motivated", "Nothing I've tried in the past is working anymore". Believe me, I feel your pain. I hate to blame it on Covid but, I blame it on Covid. It isn't necessarily the virus itself but what has come along with it. There were so many things that blindsided us all when this pandemic started. Social, racial, and political issues just to name a few. This created a hostile environment for some people. Going out in public was a recipe for disaster in that you were getting judged for what people thought you should be doing whether it was right or wrong. Everyone did, and still does, have an opinion on our behavior.
Why bring up this negative topic? To let you know it is time to take care of yourself. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of chronic stress. "chronic long-term stress can cause hormone dysregulation leading to weight gain via an increase in appetite, poor glucose control, and increased fat storage" (Chao et al., 2017) The good news? There are ways to manage this. We have to make a plan (that isn't stressful!) and stick to it. Start one thing today. Something as simple as drinking a 16 oz cup of water right when you get up in the morning. Once that becomes a habit, add another, small habit in to your routine. Something like focused breathing for 2 minutes, stretching for 10 minutes and increasing the time every week, adding vegetables to every meal, getting a massage once a month. Instead of making weight-loss your goal, make stress reduction the goal the results will come naturally.
I would love to hear your goals for starting a new habit. Send me a message with your steps and let's support each other as we get back to our new, old selves.
If massage is your new habit, reach out to us. Visit www.allforyoumassage schedule online or give us a call. (360) 900-1122.
