Cortisol and Weight Gain During Stressful Times

2020 has been quite the year so far. There are certainly lessons amidst the struggles, but regardless, difficult circumstances take a toll on our systems. In this week’s vlog, I discuss how stressors like the ones we’re living through right now affect the body and what you can do to minimize the negative impact.


Comments

  1. Constance Joy

    Hi, I am not getting sound on the vlog today 6/10/20 🙁

    Reply ·
  2. Phyllis

    It’s like the difference between full service car wash and express wash. I like the idea of giving myself permission to truncate my routine when called for. I’m all in favor of being more forgiving of myself.

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  3. Constance Joy

    Thank you so very very much! I had a midnight binge last night, ate one piece of NMF and it truly did have a much more negative effect than ever with far less of it. I even thought I was going to pass out. Today I have had two bright meals but then struggled and wanted to eat… the spiral down but decided to watch this vlog instead , then couldn’t get sound ( more stress!) but persisted . Bunny slippers are virtually on now… I will prep my dinner and keep calm foremost in view for the day. Cannot thank you enough, Susan!! Glad to know that I am not alone in this struggle and to learn the science of what is happening ❤️🧡💛 😌🧘‍♀️🙏🌸🌷✨

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    1. Nina

      Thank you for you comment. 🌼 And I just have to add you have a lovely name. Fist I read it as constant love… 😊

      Reply ·
      1. Nina

        What I ment was «constant joy»…. Sorry about that. 😁

        Reply ·
  4. sassimint grace

    Excellent ! AKA as Watching out for the (stress city)- H.A.L.T. and practicing the principles In All my affairs in order to -‘maintain fit spiritual condition.’

    Reply ·
  5. Some Lady

    I had sound, so maybe try reloading?

    Reply ·
  6. Lynne Turin

    so relevant…perfect timing….just what I needed….knowing why is so helpful to knowing what to do. thank you.

    Reply ·
  7. Bev Doney

    Thank you so much for all the time you put in to helping us.! You are SO appreciated!

    Reply ·
  9. Robyn

    Well all the um, um, um, um, ah, ah, um um sure raised my cortisol. Sure lets go watch some porn. Disgusting, gross woman you are. So done .

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Robyn, Please don’t misunderstand. Susan was not suggesting anyone go watch pornography. She was listing things that can spike dopamine, which includes addictive practices such as watching pornography and bingeing sugar- and flour-laden junk food. Certainly she is not suggesting anyone indulge in either one!

      Also, if you’re interested to know the purpose of why we say “um” when we’re speaking, please check out this vlog: https://brightlineeating.com/2019/03/the-purpose-of-um/

      Reply ·
      1. Jen

        Booya!!! And Robyn, as SPT says, no one is holding a gun to your head to watch these vlogs.

        Reply ·
    2. Helen Spingola

      Still complaining!! I think that’s the only reason you watch the vlogs…..to find something to whine about. Have a
      good day Robyn and try some “calm.”

      Reply ·
    3. Kellye

      That was an especially good one. Cortisol. Not my friend or foe. Just a signal to slow down and simplify.

      Reply ·
  10. Jennifer

    If anyone is interested, I work for a stress-management company and because of all the world is going through right now, they have decided to offer a program for free which contains some really powerful and useful tools that you can incorporate into your morning or evening routine, to bring calm and regulate cortisol levels. Feel free to check it out (and share!)
    https://store.heartmath.com/heartmath-experience

    Reply ·
  11. Ann Christine Fritzsønn

    Susan Pierce Thompson.
    Thank you for you! 🦋

    Reply ·
  12. Claire

    I have also had the past experience of keeping a really solid routine of “eating plan” , with a weekly weigh in be towards a slight gain-or the same as the previous week-and it can be so disheartening…good thoughts to all having that right now!.
    BUT-when I had a program that also took body measurements-the truth became a bit clearer…I was feeling better at a lower weight-and naturally becoming more active! Hence-muscle mass-which weighs more than fat. Almost always-the next week’s wght was on the way down again on the scale.
    Good reminders Susan! and thanks! Going to go and read a book right now!

    To the “Robyn of done-ness”…the reference to “porn” is just Susan listing yet another way our dopamine goes up-with perhaps a nod to why for some people it is addictive, as are other things we gravitate towards during stress…and not a judgement or suggestion either way. Again-these are NOT “practised” speeches or lessons-but more conversational communications. If anybody else can do that without a “like” or an “um” series…let me know-would love to um….listen to it!
    Our family has this funny little thing we all do in conversation when we are bantering about things-we ALL kind of “sing/sigh”. It seems to be genetic! It is too silly-and totally UN-conscious.
    Be well everyone and blessings on all your journey’s.

    Reply ·
  13. Jana

    This was great and spot on! My favorite: “Even if you miss, never miss twice!” Unfortunately, I feel like I’m doing more of my floor version than my ceiling version. I’d like to hold a plank for a full minute every morning, but I’m lucky to do it just a couple of times a week. Was not at all offended by the “porn” comment. Actually, you made a good point. Susan, please keep up the good work. You’re so inspiring to me!

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Dear Jana, Just keep showing up and plugging away at that floor version. That is totally ok–especially in times like these. 🧡

      Reply ·
  14. Gill GETHING

    So reassuring Susan ! Thankyou xx

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  15. Mercedes ( from Argentina)

    Dear God, thank you for Susan Peirce Thompson.

    Reply ·
  16. Dee Fay

    Susan thank you so much for providing this excellent information to the whole community. I learned about floor to ceiling in the Grit course and having been telling everyone I know about it during these hard times. Once again, you knew exactly what we needed to hear.

    Reply ·
  17. Helen Roberts Spingola

    This vlog was super and one I will be returning to often. Loved the info on cortisol!! And love SPT!!

    Reply ·
  18. Allie B

    Susan, This is very timely and very much what I needed to hear right now. Thank you for providing some specific and practical things I can do to increase my calm. Thank you also for being so in tune with our community’s feelings/needs/challenges. Your love for each of us is obvious and so heartwarming. Much love back to you.

    Reply ·
  19. Victoria Sublette

    I find that recording and measuring all of my food adds to my stress. I can be thin, but not happy and free if I am married to the food scale and constantly recording time in diaries, checklists and writing down everything that goes into my mouth.

    What are your thoughts on how I balance the stress of not being as thin as I want to be with the stress of your program?

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Oh Victoria. We hear that you are feeling stress. We want to lovingly remind you that all the tools of BLE are meant to be helpful to your program. If the Nightly Checklist is causing more stress than help, you don’t need to use it. The tool of a food journal, in which we write our food out the night before it is eaten, is also a tool meant to support your food choices and not leave you prey to the willpower gap when you are vulnerable. Writing down your food can be as simple and quick as you need it to be. It’s certainly not meant to add more stress. Have you seen Susan’s vlog “The Hourglass Shape of Recovery”? Because it’s possible that you are currently in the narrow part of the hourglass. Check it out, it might shed some light for you: https://brightlineeating.com/2020/03/the-hourglass-shape-of-recovery/

      Reply ·
  20. Tammie

    Thank you Susan!💪🧡🙌

    Reply ·
  21. Irina Lee

    Such an important and insightful reminder. Thank you, Susan! I love you too 💕 Hugs from Oslo 🇳🇴

    Reply ·
  22. Sherri

    Thank you Susan! This vlog explains what I have been experiencing recently. My lines were really bright at the beginning of the quarantine but have gotten less bright with each passing week – the vicious circle you talked about – consequently my weight has been going up and up. This will help me reset my habits and return to the morning and evening routines that I lost somewhere along the way which will lead to bright lines and an end to the vicious circle.

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      A little science does wonders for one’s perspective, doesn’t it, Sherri? 🧡

      Reply ·
  23. michelle

    HI Susan,
    So happy you did this blog! The best way to test for cortisol levels is an inexpensive pm saliva test. (Quest is one lab that offers the test.) The NCIS states it is 91 percent effective, The problem with testing in the morning is that many people, especially those with endocrine disorders, have cyclically high cortisol. Morning cortisol levels for those people can actually be low. The way to tell if you have cyclically high cortisol is if you have insomnia and are tired in the morning. Thank you!

    Reply ·
  24. michelle

    Sorry spell check NIH. Not investigating crime here.

    Reply ·
  25. Joan

    I went through hardship every day of my life; I did not want to go out and was not happy with my clothes sizes and how I looked.

    We would go to the beach and I would not even take my T shirt off.

    At one point I could not take it no more, so I tried to find help and came across these guys – https://shorturl.me/aKQobyp

    They changed my life and I look and feel better. I am out nearly every day and so happy with my life.

    Thank you and God Bless you.

    Reply ·
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