A couple of years ago, I was developing mild Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. I was managing it with Herbs just fine, but when you have HBP, there is always an underlying reason, so I didn’t just want to keep taking herbs forever.
I could not, however, figure out why I was having issues with HBP. Then, when I would get sick, my BP would skyrocket!
It would get up to around 150/85 – 160/95. I could feel this in my body! There were also moments when I would get angry and could feel this visceral reaction.
I’d check my BP, and it would be high again! I decided then that I should have an outside perspective. I reached out to my then-instructor, Thomas Easley. After reviewing my history and meeting, he told me I wasn’t eating enough, which was probably why I was having difficulty getting it under control.
I didn’t believe him! I mean, after all, since having children, I’ve had issues losing weight. I did, however, promise to count my calories. What a surprise. I was, on average, only consuming 900-1200 calories a day. (and I even counted the spray on my pans!)
This was a consistent pattern. I might get around 1600-2000 calories on the weekends, but it was NOT making up for the lack of calories during the week. I was NOT eating enough for my activity level. I had also started fasting and had recently lost 35 pounds. My metabolism had probably tanked. I also started having symptoms of high cortisol, sleeplessness, weight gain around the abdomen, puffy face, irritability, and anxiety.
It was an interesting journey increasing my calories, and it took 6 months. When I reached around 1500 calories daily, I no longer had High Blood Pressure. When I hit around 1600 calories daily, I noticed a significant shift. I was not nearly as stressed as I used to be. I was not having what I had termed “freak-out moments” anymore. I wasn’t as angry; I wasn’t as anxious. After a month of this, I felt my ability to handle stress doubled!!
Bottom Line – Stress Comes in Many Forms
Ever since having kids, I have been on a diet of some form. Dieting can cause stress on your body. Check how many calories you are eating in a day. You’d be surprised how many women I see in my practice who are stressed, anxious, have high blood pressure and heart palpitations. They just need to eat more. You might need a break from dieting for a while and maintain.
Here’s a decent calorie calculator to note how many calories you should consume daily to maintain or lose weight. I personally think it’s a little on the high side. Always “underestimate” your activity level. When you start to gain weight and are getting close to your maintenance weight, you can lower carbohydrates or stay at that calorie amount. You do not have to stick with this calculator. It’s a mere guideline.
Here’s my favorite calorie counter app.
Learn more about lowering stress here.
Feel free to reach out if any of this resonates with you and you would like further support. Schedule a free session to see how I can help you conquer your stress!
