Cortisol and stress - the natural enemy of fat loss in new Mums?

Time and again I meet new Mums who wonder why it's so hard to get the fat loss results they want. Putting aside the need to eat a healthy diet and exercise, there are some other factors to consider when looking to get your pre-baby body back.

What is Cortisol?
Adrenaline and Cortisol are the two main stress hormones produced by the Adrenal glands. Totally useful when we need to get out of danger, not so great when our modern life and stress levels keep us chronically in a state of over-production.

So what does this mean for your fat-burning efforts? And why does it seem that our body might actually be fighting us to achieve our goals?

• Both hormones circulating in the system increase appetite and then drive the stressed individual to consume – guess what? More carbohydrate and fat!
  
• During pregnancy, the hormonal signals have been set to ensure fat is stored in preparation for feeding the baby.
  
• During pregnancy and the early weeks after having a baby, cortisol is naturally elevated. After birth, the body elevates Cortisol and other stress hormones to help keep Mum alert and aware of any possible dangers to the baby - and it's though that they may even have a role in the attachment process.

• The physical stress of labour and birthing, not to mention the stresses of adjusting to life as a new Mum and poor sleeping patterns/lack of sleep means that Cortisol levels may remain high long after the little one comes into your life, making it difficult for you to lose weight.

• Being an older Mum can also be a factor in holding fat as sadly, by the mid to late 30’s the body is preparing for menopause. And the ultimate paradox - as women head towards menopause the body will automatically be reluctant to let go of fat around the middle as this is where Oestrogen is mainly manufactured. This happens because the body knows that Oestrogen will help protect our bones from Osteoporosis so the body tries to hold onto the fat to hold onto the Oestrogen to prevent Osteoporosis which it obviously deems to be a greater threat than having a fat belly!

• The ultimate blow comes in the fact that abdominal fat cells have four times as many receptors for Cortisol than anywhere else in your body so if you’re continually too stressed, your abdominal fat cells will be calling out for Cortisol and encouraging the body to store fat around the abdominals!

So what can we do to keep the cortisol levels at bay?

• Obey your natural rhythms of sleep and rest – our circadian rhythm allows the adrenals to rest and Human Growth Hormone to be produced – vital for optimal fat metabolism.
  
• Caffeine, sugar, tobacco and low blood sugar create emergency situations within our systems and signal stress, they are ALL best avoided!

Special thanks to: Burrell Education 2012 www.burrelleducation.com