David Lloyd

When most people think of stress they think of being overworked. Stress, however, can come from many sources: physical, chemical or emotional.

The response the body has to stress, regardless of the source, is the activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system branch sends a signal to the brain to release cortisol, a powerful stress hormone. Essentially, all stress is summated, meaning whether your are stressed via a physical, chemical, emotional source or a combination of all sources it will all contribute to increased cortisol levels.

So what does increased cortisol levels mean? If they are short term and temporary the consequences can easily go unnoticed; it is likely you will feel a bit tired, lose some motivation for going to the gym and perhaps be a touch more irritable. If cortisol levels stay elevated for long periods you can begin to feel depressed, have serious energy lows, it is likely you will find it very hard to lose weight, and often motivation levels for exercising or activity will be very low. Long-term consquences can lead to adrenal fatigue (the gland that releases cortisol) and other serious disease states.

With the pace and demands of life today it is very easy for stress levels to rise; people have to work harder, travel more, sleep less (all sources of physical stress). Less time and energy can mean relationship challenges (emotional stress) and poor food choices (chemical stress).

So what can we do to ensure we manage our stress levels?

• Review all 3 key areas of stress in your life, decide where you think the predominant sources are, physical, chemical or emotional? Focus on identifying the causes and finding a solution to remove it!
• Commit to getting 8hrs sleep per night
• Drink 8 glasses of good quality water per day
• Eat a nutritious diet; the Lose and Shape Up 40/30/30 diet is excellent
• Exercise according to your energy levels. When you are feeling tired, perhaps engage in a yoga, pilates or body balance class. These all do a wonderful job at relieving stress and giving energy. When feeling energised, workout hard; perhaps a body attack class, a circuit class or a gym routine consisting of resistance and interval cardio

Whatever your stress levels, there is always something you can do to move from surviving to LIVING!

Life - be fit for it!