Losing weight gives most people a huge boost in confidence and opens a new world of possibilities.  However while the process of loosing weight [...]]]> Diets Effect on Mood

Losing weight gives most people a huge boost in confidence and opens a new world of possibilities.  However while the process of loosing weight can be an uplifting experience it can be stained by depression and drops in the emotional state due to the diet itself.

Change is a constant factor in life but change also is very difficult for many people, even good change.  Any type of change leads to stress on physical and emotional levels.  And a key point here is that good stress is still stress and causes similar chemical reactions in the body that can lead to food craving and over eating.  One of the brains major coping mechanisms for stress is food, junk food, and lots of it.  So, what we have is a multis pronged assault on the body and mind caused by our beneficial changes.

First off, major changes in your eating habits, aka. a diet can mess with the bodies neurotransmitters which dictate how we feel.  These symptoms seems to be most pronounced a couple of weeks into a diet at which point there is a critical mass, or in this case a lack of mass of serotonin.  The brain responds by craving starchy sugary foods which will give the body a quick boost of serotonin.

The physical stress of a diet also leads to releases of cortisol which is the bodies major stress fighting hormone.  Cortisol is also famous for increasing food cravings and causing our bodies to hold onto fat stores.  Your body is simply wired to hold onto some extra weight.  We have numerous systems build into our anatomy which make weight lose quite a challenge.

Another common symptom of diet or riding hunger is drops in blood sugar and Glycemic index.  Blood sugar drops when all of the glucose in our blood is used for normal energy production.  This can be a dangerous health problem in people with diabetes.  For other healthy people on a deficit diet it is recognized by low energy levels, the shakes or a clouded head.  Its message is simple, EAT!!!

The point I am trying to make here is not that you should be scared away from dieting or trying to loose a couple of pounds you just need to know your enemy.  The best offense is a good defense.  Be prepared to recognize different symptoms associated with depression, low blood sugar, and cravings.  Learn how to properly remedy these particular situations and not succumb to excessive binge eating of comfort food.  Be prepared and if your body is telling you that it need a break from deficit dieting give it a break.