Stress and Weight

TracyQ · 12-04-20, 01:54 PM

At my physical in August I weighed the exact same as I did at my physical a year earlier in August of 2019 and the year before that.

I retired (early at age 57) from a stressful job at the end of October 2020. I don’t regularly weigh myself at home but do so every now and then. This morning when I weighed myself I was surprised to see that I lost 7 lbs.

I have not changed anything about my diet and exercise routine (and actually ate a little more due to Thanksgiving). The only thing I can attribute it to is less stress in my life.

It kind of blows my mind that 7lbs would fall off without me even noticing.

I’m just curious, has anyone else experienced a weight loss after leaving a stressful situation?

Gams · 12-04-20, 02:11 PM

I think it wouldn’t hurt to touch bases with your doctor. Unexplained weight loss can also be a symptom of a medical issue.

Softshoe · 12-04-20, 02:58 PM

In the medical field, often the weight is related to the stress, especially on the night shift.

cataddict · 12-04-20, 04:15 PM

TracyQ, I had the exact thing happen to me after I left an incredibly stressful job a couple of years ago. I lost roughly 5-10 pounds without changing anything diet or exercise-wise that I could put my finger on. I had heard that increased cortisol caused by extreme stress can wreak havoc, and I feel that was my issue. I felt a weight had lifted off me when I left. My weight loss also was over a month or so, so that's not dramatic I don't think.

I guess it couldn't hurt to check with your doctor, but I wouldn't call your weight loss sudden or unexplained. JMHO based on my experience.

TracyQ · 12-04-20, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataddict

TracyQ, I had the exact thing happen to me after I left an incredibly stressful job a couple of years ago. I lost roughly 5-10 pounds without changing anything diet or exercise-wise that I could put my finger on. I had heard that increased cortisol caused by extreme stress can wreak havoc, and I feel that was my issue. I felt a weight had lifted off me when I left. My weight loss also was over a month or so, so that's not dramatic I don't think.

I guess it couldn't hurt to check with your doctor, but I wouldn't call your weight loss sudden or unexplained. JMHO based on my experience.

Wow that is so interesting. Now I really think it has to do with letting go of the stress from the job. I’m not one to go to the doctor unless it can’t be ignored. I feel great and just had a physical in August with a clean bill of health.

Thank you Gams, Shoftshoe and cataddict for your feedback.

bfit · 12-04-20, 10:18 PM

Is it possible that you are a bit more active now that you are not working? Even a little bit more activity makes a difference. If your job involved sitting maybe you are just moving around your house more now than you did when at work. Or maybe you're doing more house cleaning or working in your yard and those kinds of things. Also, what you eat may have changed. I remember gaining weight at one particular job I had because someone would always bring doughnuts to the break room, and I would always have a doughnut. I don't think I've had a doughnut since!

bee · 12-04-20, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfit

Is it possible that you are a bit more active now that you are not working? Even a little bit more activity makes a difference. If your job involved sitting maybe you are just moving around your house more now than you did when at work. Or maybe you're doing more house cleaning or working in your yard and those kinds of things. Also, what you eat may have changed. I remember gaining weight at one particular job I had because someone would always bring doughnuts to the break room, and I would always have a doughnut. I don't think I've had a doughnut since!

I was wondering the same thing -- that kind of movement can make a big difference added up.

For me, depending on the type of stress, it actually makes me lose weight because I just can't eat. Other types of stress make me eat more -- it just depends.....

prettyinpink · 12-05-20, 12:58 AM

Little bits of movement more regularly can make a difference for me, but sleep can make a difference.

If you are getting better sleep along with less stress, or no longer being awakened in the middle of a sleep stage by an alarm clock, that can affect a lot of things.

Taramisu · 12-05-20, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataddict

TracyQ, I had the exact thing happen to me after I left an incredibly stressful job a couple of years ago. I lost roughly 5-10 pounds without changing anything diet or exercise-wise that I could put my finger on. I had heard that increased cortisol caused by extreme stress can wreak havoc, and I feel that was my issue. I felt a weight had lifted off me when I left. My weight loss also was over a month or so, so that's not dramatic I don't think.

I guess it couldn't hurt to check with your doctor, but I wouldn't call your weight loss sudden or unexplained. JMHO based on my experience.

I agree with this. Stress has a big impact on weight and I strongly suspect letting go of that job stress is the culprit for your weight loss. Someone else mentioned sleep, you are probably getting better quality sleep too which helps.

Good for you on retiring from the stressful job, has to be a massive relief.

Nuggie's Auntie · 12-06-20, 08:06 AM

I can totally believe it's cortisol. I gained 10lbs in just a few months when my son started having seizures. My doc did a full workup and she chalked it up to stress, though I think it may have been a confluence of events (perimenopause, a little less movement because it was that crazy Boston winter when we had a blizzard every three days, which was in itself somewhat stressful!) I'm glad you left your job!

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12-04-20, 01:54 PM
TracyQ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boston, MA	Stress and Weight At my physical in August I weighed the exact same as I did at my physical a year earlier in August of 2019 and the year before that. I retired (early at age 57) from a stressful job at the end of October 2020. I don’t regularly weigh myself at home but do so every now and then. This morning when I weighed myself I was surprised to see that I lost 7 lbs. I have not changed anything about my diet and exercise routine (and actually ate a little more due to Thanksgiving). The only thing I can attribute it to is less stress in my life. It kind of blows my mind that 7lbs would fall off without me even noticing. I’m just curious, has anyone else experienced a weight loss after leaving a stressful situation? __________________ Tracy Cellulite is not a character defect.

12-04-20, 02:11 PM
Gams Join Date: Mar 2007	I think it wouldn’t hurt to touch bases with your doctor. Unexplained weight loss can also be a symptom of a medical issue.

12-04-20, 02:58 PM
Softshoe VF Supporter Join Date: Mar 2003	In the medical field, often the weight is related to the stress, especially on the night shift. __________________ Mary

12-04-20, 04:15 PM
cataddict VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006	TracyQ, I had the exact thing happen to me after I left an incredibly stressful job a couple of years ago. I lost roughly 5-10 pounds without changing anything diet or exercise-wise that I could put my finger on. I had heard that increased cortisol caused by extreme stress can wreak havoc, and I feel that was my issue. I felt a weight had lifted off me when I left. My weight loss also was over a month or so, so that's not dramatic I don't think. I guess it couldn't hurt to check with your doctor, but I wouldn't call your weight loss sudden or unexplained. JMHO based on my experience. __________________ How fierce will you be today? VFer KateTT Watula, Cheeto, Charli, Lux, Merlin, Rudy, Finley the Cat, Hobbes, Winston, and Finley the Dog Fan Girl! Word of 2024: Patience

12-04-20, 10:18 PM
bfit Join Date: Nov 2005	Is it possible that you are a bit more active now that you are not working? Even a little bit more activity makes a difference. If your job involved sitting maybe you are just moving around your house more now than you did when at work. Or maybe you're doing more house cleaning or working in your yard and those kinds of things. Also, what you eat may have changed. I remember gaining weight at one particular job I had because someone would always bring doughnuts to the break room, and I would always have a doughnut. I don't think I've had a doughnut since!

12-05-20, 12:58 AM
prettyinpink Join Date: Jun 2009	Little bits of movement more regularly can make a difference for me, but sleep can make a difference. If you are getting better sleep along with less stress, or no longer being awakened in the middle of a sleep stage by an alarm clock, that can affect a lot of things.

12-06-20, 08:06 AM
Nuggie's Auntie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: I love that dirty water...	I can totally believe it's cortisol. I gained 10lbs in just a few months when my son started having seizures. My doc did a full workup and she chalked it up to stress, though I think it may have been a confluence of events (perimenopause, a little less movement because it was that crazy Boston winter when we had a blizzard every three days, which was in itself somewhat stressful!) I'm glad you left your job!