Your body will hold onto excess weight when you’re stressed. We all know that too much stress has a detrimental effect on our bodies, regardless of the type of stress or the cause of it. In this episode, I’m talking about the different types of stress, the stress scale, and some practical ways you can reduce your stress levels.   How to Reduce Your Stress Levels Recognize how often you have judgemental thoughts Start acknowledging your stress level and where you want to be Set and maintain boundaries   Weight Loss and Your Stress Levels People often ask me what the best way to lose weight is. The truth is, there is no one way to lose weight – it’s entirely different and personal to your body. You need to find the best way that works for you. Saying that there is one thing that tends to prevent weight loss, regardless of your body: stress. Stress, whether mental, emotional, or physical, has a detrimental effect on your body, making weight loss way more difficult. I’d like you to consider the stress scale, with 1 being lying on a beach sipping cocktails and 10 being so stressed you can’t even function. Where do you fall on any given day?   Stress and Control Stress causes your body to hold onto excess weight, regardless of what you eat. When your cortisol levels are high, your body is having a response to stress. And when your body is chronically in that stress response state, of course, it will hold onto excess weight. We respond in a stressful manner when we try to control those things that we can’t actually control. The first step to reducing your stress is to let go of what you can’t control, and instead, focus on what you can control. This will make a huge difference. Where are you on the stress scale on an average day? Where do you want to get your stress level to regularly? Let me know in the comments on the episode page how reducing your stress level will improve your life and your weight.   In This Episode  What the right weight loss plan is [6:00] The different causes of stress [7:45] How to protect your energy [8:15] The role of cortisol in your stress response [15:00] How stress impacts your body’s ability to lose weight [18:45] What you can control [22:15] Why you want to reduce your stress to reach your goals [25:15]   Quotes “Finding a way to have these things will only be available if we’re able to manage our stress.” [3:56] “You can find the evidence and research for anything you want to believe, but the magic will come in being aware on your own authentic rhythms and the way that your body likes to be fed.” [6:43] “When you’re thinking about stress, think about stress is also known as whatever it is that drains your energy. If your energy is being drained, you are going to be stressed.” [8:03] “I always say the two greatest gifts are time and energy. If we can preserve our time with boundaries if we can preserve our energy with boundaries, that’s just one strategy, we are going to preserve ourselves and we are going to be able to decrease the amount of stress that we’re constantly under, that we’re constantly facing.” [21:55]   Resources Mentioned Join the Interest List for Transform 6.0 Enrollment for the next Ultimate Jump Start™ will open soon for May-June, 2023: 12-CME Credits Available Check out the full episode page here Find Life Coaching for Women Physicians Online Follow Dr. Ali Novitsky on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Subscribe to Life Coaching for Women Physicians on Apple Podcasts Podcast production by the team at Counterweight Creative   Related Episodes  Episode 143: The Power of Asking for Help Episode 150: Scheduling Your Optimal Health Episode 149: Feeling Your Way to Optimal Health