To me, losing weight is about finding what is healthy for your body type and effortlessly being able to keep the excess weight off through a healthy state of balance. So here are 2 simple steps you can take that will help you lose weight and keep it off!

1. Stress-less!

When you perceive stress or are physically stressed, your sympathetic nervous system is activated, releasing cortisol (long term stress coping hormone) into your body. In short, when cortisol is pumping through your system, sugar is dumped into your blood which then results in the release of insulin (fat storage hormone). Unfortunately, in today’s crazy world, you can be perceiving stress whilst sitting at your work desk or on the couch!

Therefore, this excess insulin pumping through your blood stores as fat. Constant stress and activation of your sympathetic nervous system can lead to long term cortisol problems which slow down your metabolism, tell your cells to store fat, cause blood glucose problems and much more. Therefore, to counteract this you must try to consciously make an effort to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which allows your body to rest, digest, repair and in turn shed the weight.

The best ways to do this is through an early night’s sleep, deep belly breathing, ensuring you have downtime through meditation, yoga or walking and most importantly by changing your perception of stress and your toxic thoughts!

2. Less sugar, more FAT!

As nutrition has evolved over the years the latest scientific research shows us that eating fat does not make you fat but eating sugar definitely does! The main danger is when you eat sugars that are high in fructose as your digestive system breaks down the food quickly allowing the fructose to enter into your blood stream rapidly giving you a hit of energy, raising your blood sugar levels.

This creates an elevated insulin (fat storage hormone) response. Insulin fixes the fat inside your cells and stores it for later while you burn off the sugars you have just consumed. . However, when you eat good fats, your body recognises to use the fat as its primary source of fuel. It signals to your body to access stored fat and use this for energy as well. Fats leave you feeling fuller for longer, eating less and most importantly it stabilises your blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugar levels mean less insulin production. Good fats include; avocadoes, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish and healthy oils. Focus on including a small amount good fat with every meal you have as well as snacks.