7 Weight Loss Challenges and Tips for Women
Find out how to overcome the weight loss hurdles that are unique to women.
Men and women were created equal, but they are different. Especially when it comes to weight loss. Women face some unique challenges in getting the bathroom scale to budge. And these challenges are both medical and emotional in nature. So whether you're trying to lose 5 pounds or 50, it’s important to understand your weight loss challenges. That way, you'll be armed with weight loss tips (specifically for women) and strategies that can help you break through those obstacles and making slimming down easier.
Obstacle #1: Do you feel stressed?
Almost everyone feels stress at some point in the day. But research shows that women are more prone to feeling stress as they juggle the demands of their work commitments, their family lives, and their social ties. And not only that, but women are also more likely than men to feel guilt when work interrupts their home lives. All of that pressure adds up, sending stress-hormone levels soaring.
The kicker in all of this? Research shows that high levels of a stress hormone called cortisol increases appetite. Uh-oh. And cortisol makes people crave foods high in fat and sugar. Double uh-oh.
The solution: To help keep stress from sabotaging your waistline, one of the best weight loss tips for women is to spend at least a few minutes every day practicing a simple stress reduction strategy. Like one of these:
- Walk for 10 minutes. (And walk outside if you can.)
- Breathe deeply 10 times. (Here are four steps to taking truly deep breaths.)
- Tense and then relax each muscle group. (Start at your toes and move up.)
- Find a quiet place to meditate for 10 minutes. (Here's a quick guide to meditating.)
Next page: Find out how sleep affects your weight . . .
