hi sherry, and everybody,
I wanted to reply earlier, but this is one of those "deep thought" type questions that I needed to go away and mull over for a time, and not just some off-the-cuff blurb. Not that I'm a psychological expert, unless you consider my decades of emotional angst and turmoil a qualifying factor....
Stress has both physical and emotional implications for stalling weight loss efforts. In Carbohydrate Adddict's Healthy for Life, the Drs. Heller explain how stress - even GOOD stress - creates a physiological cascade of events in our bodies, and the release of various hormones such as adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine, among others, all ending with a rise in INSULIN, which is of course, the fat-storing hormone. This is where a sound lowcarb program can be helpful. Keeping blood sugar down, and also the presence of ketones (from fat-burning) helps to moderate the effects of insulin. That being said, constant and/or prolonged stress does take its toll.
Emotionally, stress can be very sneaky. It can lead to cravings and binges .... and sometimes, our behaviours change in ways we may not be consciously aware of at the time. Stress causes me to lose my appetite and I undereat. Result - slowed metabolism, and weight GAIN when I do start eating again. Or some folks may eat too much; they're too stressed and too tired to measure the food, and just sort of stuff it in because they're ravenous. Or somehow, our negative feelings get the better of us, and totally sabotage our best plans and efforts.
The Hellers also state that stress can deplete our chromium stores. Chromium is important for the efficient use of insulin within the cell (efficiently used insulin means less is required, thus no big rise in insulin level). If you are frequently stressed, whether it's a high-demand job, family, whatever, or physical stressors such as smoking, eating a lot of processed foods (including processed lowcarb and Frankenfoods) you might consider taking a chromium supplement. 200 mcg per day. Look for chromium picolinate, nicotinate or at least a chelate form. These are absorbed most completely.
Doreen