Lighten Up When Walking!
Stress.
When walking to lose weight particularly if you have come from inactivity over a long period say several years, stress can be eustress, the good type which has you jumping around with excitement or anticipation, and tends to mean that you can’t help but get either incidental or purposeful exercise because our bodies react to the adrenaline by wanting to move, or what we commonly know as stress the so called ‘bad’ stress which floods our bodies with hormones which call for action when at the same time we are forced to not act – maybe because a passive environment or role requires you not to act but restrict activity.
Think of watching an action movie or a chase scene- does your body move at that moment when the hero grabs the bad guy? Although your body is not involved but is physically inert the feelings produced are similar, the body reacts and wants to move. Watching a really good dance show makes you want to get up and move or jump around.
Our bodies are designed for action particularly as a defense mechanism (fight or flight) but also to celebrate joy. Thriving requires both bountiful rest and inspiration (breathing) as well as vigorous action.
When someone has not got their hormones in balance, if adrenaline is flooding the body without enough cortisol produced to balance back to stasis, then tiredness results. The body feels as though it has done a lot of physical work without having been active, and the mind races and without the balancing hormone required , cannot return to calm.
Balance.
Walking can be playful, invigorating and destressing. As your body adapts to the new amount of exercise, to increase your results, you need to increase the activity level by doing more or doing it faster/harder. However the body also needs rest to repair and restore. There comes a time when walking to lose weight, when you find your body is feeling “it” and not in a good way- unless you are the type who sees pain as gain.
The body adjusts beautifully, even miraculously, given the rest it needs. So for those times when you feel stressed about walking, consider the cause. There is a difference between motivational and physical reluctance. Ongoing or chronic overuse (stress) of the body requires rest. Acute or one-off incidents require walking through. If it is physical such as a strain, take it gently but do some activity. If it is mental such as tiredness from lack of sleep and too much anxiety do not overdo it but put some fun into the activity, a stroll along the beach with your kids (assuming this would be fun!) If your tiredness comes from depression, walk until your spirit lifts!
Sleeplessness and stress causes increased production of cortisol and this can cause a desire to eat calorie laden food (comfort food) and lack of motivation to exercise which in turn causes increase in fat retention.
Destress!
The good news? – the reverse is also true! Rest, good feeling, fun, lightness of being, recreation make well being, and weight loss, easier.
4 Responses Leave a comment
I wonder if some of this data might have been taken from a feed, it’s found everywhere on the net and other peoples websites, unless you’re the content’s publisher?. Thanks Body Building Supplement is our specialty.
While I have written this some time ago and often find I am quoted by other websites I can say that the post is original although the information is well established and can be found on other sites. It is unlikely to have been presented exactly as I have done. Thanks for your comment.
Great job sharing this post. I find it inspiring and happy to sometimes come back to rediscover your posts. Thanks in your continious desire to share information.
I have only just found the best way for me to share the benefits I get from walking in ways which others get. it is a joy for me to hear from those who are enjoying it as well.