We've all been there, does this sound familiar? You begin a new diet, lose a couple of pounds in the first few weeks, except instead of being energised and ready to take on the world you feel exhausted. Many people report feeling run down or fatigued when they start a new weight loss plan, thinking it goes with the territory. But, there is no reason to accept being tired as a normal dieting side effect.
Weight loss is about regaining your health, and fixing a damaged metabolism. If you are feeling more tired and anxious while dieting, then you are not making the best health changes. When you start dropping pounds, you should feel energetic, have a more positive outlook, and sleep better than you have in years. Sleepwalking through your day is a sign a few adjustments are needed. In fact, a new feeling of vitality should kick in before you see a physical change.
While people think they are doing all the right things, eating less and burning more, they are actually working against themselves. Dieters end up feeling miserable, face first in a gallon of double fudge ice-cream. That's because, dramatically limiting calories, fasting, and over exercising wreaks havoc on the body. These added internal pressures trigger the stress hormone cortisol. Not only does cortisol cause the body to store fat, it is a natural anti-sleep agent. With high levels of cortisol in your system, it is impossible have restful sleep.
People become anxious when they try to lose weight. To relieve grogginess, you must regulate the cortisol and other stress hormones released by the adrenal glands.
You can avoid fatigue by allowing yourself to be free in ways not involving a tight reign on self control. Let loose in ways you enjoy separate from food. Treat yourself to a day at the spa, or go shopping. Choose something you enjoy and allow yourself to feel free, live life basically.
If you are unable to control obsessive thinking, you can reduce anxiety with other techniques. Refocusing with meditation works well, I have tried this myself and it does wonders for the mind and gives you back control. Even though you want to lose weight, try focusing on something less exhausting when you feel worn down. Meditation is a proven way to reduce anxiety and fatigue. Learning to meditate can help relieve tension when battling your weight.
Of course, we can't ignore the role food plays. Health professionals advise going natural to increase energy. "One cause of fatigue is eating processed diet foods. These packaged foods have no enzymes, and are often full of chemicals for enhancing flavor, such as MSG and aspartame," explains raw food expert Susan Schenck,"such exitoxins cause fatigue."
I fell into this trap once and would fill up on packaged 'nutrition' bars and then wonder why I would have to take forty winks! I found that eating a diet of whole foods alleviated a lethargic mood. A diet high in raw foods is rich in enzymes, giving the pancreas a rest from cranking out digestive chemicals needed to compensate for enzymes lost when cooking.
- Drink plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces. Spring or filtered water is best, not sparkling.
- Combine high quality proteins and carbohydrate sources, such as nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, eggs and low-fat cheeses. Generally small amounts of protein spread evenly throughout the day keep blood sugar stable.
- Eat lots of cruciferous vegetables. They help prevent cancer, balance hormones and are high in potassium and phytonutrients.
- Eliminate grains and starches. Your body will burn those sources of sugar before stored fat.
- Eliminate caffeine and get on a regular sleep schedule. Cutting stimulants out will be hard at first, but will eliminate the roller coaster effect on adrenal hormones and insulin. This results in more energy at the right time.
- See a nutritionalist to help you balance hormones and properly supplement your nutritional needs.
So don't just look in the mirror wondering what you would look like, start today, the result is a stronger, leaner body. So, take control of your weight loss and experience the vitality and happiness you deserve from a healthy lifestyle.
Have a great weekend
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