When You Can't Seem to Flatten the Tire Around Your Mid-Section

You can be doing everything right with your exercise regimine and the foods you feed yourself to fuel your body. Unfortunately, some of us may still have the extra "pooch" that just won't go away. Here's what I have learned about that. Our midsection has a very high blood supply, in comparison to the rest of our body. What it eventually comes down to is our hormones. Our hormones, like our food and exercise plan, must also be balanced. Things like "STRESS" can completely flip our hormones upside-down and shake it up. A hormone called cortisol, which is a stress hormone, is elevated when you are in high-stress situation or live a high stressed life. What happens is the cortisol has a a block party in your belly. With all those hormones collecting and singing kumbaya at your stomach's campfire...there is no amount of crunches or eating habits to make up for that. In all sincerity, it shouldn't. We are suppose to balance our lives and stress is just another one of those things. Depending on the levels of stress in your life, you may need to get creative with ways to combat those intense times. You could do things like go running, listen to music and sing at the top of your lungs, get a pedi and/or mani, lay down for a massage, or even just sit and have some peace and quiet. Whatever works for you! I recently took a whole day off, from life! Well, it ended up being a half day, but at least the intention was there. I did nothing that would cause me to be stressed, worried, tied down, anxious, etc. It lasted for half a day, but I tell ya, it sure was rejuvenating! SO, TAKE SOME TIME OFF FOR YOU! WHETHER IT'S AN HOUR, A DAY, OR EVEN A WEEKEND. GET YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT, TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES...MAKE IT COUNT, YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! Besides, if you can't take care of you, forget about trying to hold the rest of the fort down (the husband/wife, the kids, the pets, the job...you get the point)