Struggling to lose weight? It could be stress that's the problem.

I'm seeing more and more clients about weight management and loss, and it's an area I feel very passionate about.

I grew up with a mother who attached her own self worth to her dress size. You name the diet, she tried it. This rubbed off on me. I also have people very close to me, dearly loved ones, who have put themselves through all the latest programmes and approaches, from slimming clubs to Atkins to keto to 5:2 to OMAD.

I've witnessed the low self-esteem; the nagging, berating narrative they live with; and the downright self-loathing they've experienced at some points.

I've trained in and understand how much stress impacts not just the way we eat, but the physiological process it sets off in our body which makes losing weight all the harder.

You see, when we are on top of our mental state, when we are feeling good and getting that steady flow of serotonin, we see food as an energy source that we can use, and not store. Plus we can make proper assessments about the food we eat in the first place.

When we are anxious or stressed, however, and our system has higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol and lower levels of serotonin, a few things happen.

1. We start to eat food to generate dopamine and a quick hit or serotonin. It works, temporarily - we get a chemical reward for eating and it feels good. But then we feel the urge to repeat pattern to get that sensation again. Our brain actively encourages us to do this, it's sends powerful signals to repeat the behaviour - to eat more - because it worked last time!
   

2. Additionally our body treats food differently when we are stressed and have cortisol in our system. It chooses to store it as fat rather than use it as energy, in case there is a danger we won't find another source of food. It will store the fat in the abdominal region.
   

3. This kicks off yet another physical process that works against us maintaining or losing weight. Abdominal fat has more cortisol receptors - meaning you are set up to produce yet more cortisol, or more stress! A vicious cycle is created.

And then of course we try a diet, we restrict food, maybe fast, and what message does our brain get?

Food is scarce! Must seek food! Must eat food when we find it!

We might override those signals for a period of time and lose weight. But if we succumb to stress again, because... well, life, then we revert to old patterns of behaviour and the struggle with food and weight begins again.

It's a fascinating area and I love helping people:

• Gain knowledge and understanding of how the mind and body are so intrinsically linked

• Take control of their mental state

• Take control once and for all of their relationship with food, eating and their bodies

Do contact me if you would like to find out more about how solution focused psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help you achieve your goals with food and weight!