Healthy Hollywood: Fab Food Friday – Is Stress Making You Fat?

Ugh. The nasty six letter word “STRESS” – that always seems to be popping up and sabotaging most people’s intention to live happy, joyous, and free.

These days who isn’t on the verge of a meltdown? Thanks to finances, job issues, and relationship problems – to name a few of life’s hot button issues.

Now, the stress-inducing news that STRESS MAKES US FAT!

“Stress has a tremendous impact on our quality of life, as well as our appetites,” reveals Holly Mosier, author of Stress Less, Weigh Less.

The former “General Hospital” actress also states weight gain is due to the stress hormone cortisol, adding, “Cortisol causes very real cravings for high fat, high sugar, and high sodium foods. You know, all those junk foods, like potato chips, ice cream and red velvet cake. It’s not your imagination, or just lack of will power! So until we learn to manage stress, and thereby avert the dump of excess cortisol into our bodies, we will remain caught in the never-ending cycle of yo-yo dieting.”

Feeling stressed? Me too.

Holly, who has battled her weight all her life, has finally at age 50 got stress under control and has a super-fit body. “Once we manage stress, you will find both your mind and body much more receptive to the eating and exercise changes required to get the results – the permanent results – you have been looking for.”

So, what are we frazzled folks supposed to do? Holly highly suggests mind-body practices like yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation. Plus, her foundational tool is what she calls “Opt Out.” Holly adds, “If you chronically schedule too many activities in your typical day and you’re too busy to take a little downtime for yourself, you will constantly be battling an appetite brought on by the stress hormones.”

Holly’s “Opt Out” plan: “Don’t do things just because everyone else is doing them. Evaluate activities, choose what works for your life, and do only those things. Learn to say no to demands, requests, invitations, and activities that leave you no time for yourself.”

Once you have some ‘me’ time, Holly suggests trying her Four-Count Breath. “Breathe in through your nose while slowly counting to four, then exhale through your nose to the count of four. Focus on the breath with your mind…It’s a habit with me now, so when anything stressful happens my first response is to go my breath, rather than just blindly reacting.”

For more of Holly’s stress-reducing tips and her healthy eating plan, head to www.hollymosier.com.