Are you STRESSED OUT?!

Like it or not STRESS is fact of life! The important thing is how you minimize or manage stress.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Exercise is a great tool to relieve stress. Before or after a long day at work, or at home with the kids exercise is something to look forward to relieve your stress and refresh yourself. Exercise provides emotional and physical benefits in managing stress.

Mentally, exercise provides an outlet for negative emotions such as frustration, anger and irritability, promoting a more positive mood and outlook. Exercise improves mood by producing positive biochemical changes in the body and brain. Regular exercise reduces the amount of adrenal hormones your body releases in response to stress. Also, with exercise, your body releases greater amounts of endorphins, the powerful, pain-relieving, mood-elevating chemicals in the brain. Depressed people often lack these neurochemicals. Endorphins are natural pain killers and also help lift your mood.

In addition to exercise living a healthy and balanced lifestyle are also key.  Here are a few ways you can Adopt a healthy lifestyle.

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

* Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
* Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
* Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary “highs” caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.
* Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
* Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Beware of emotional eating!  Emotional eating has many causes. The following are some of the main reasons - besides hunger - that stressed people eat: Cortisol Cravings, Social Eating, Nervous Energy,Childhood Habits,and Stuffing Emotions.

Exercise is an important Stress Management Tool and you will look better and FEEL BETTER!