Reduce Stress, Improve Sleep Quality, Burn Belly Fat, and Boost Immunity
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'Tis the season for stress. With lists of additional things to do and parties to attend, our bodies react by secreting cortisol levels that can make it impossible to lose weight and begin to store fat around your midsection.
Increased cortisol also increases:
- Hunger and cravings
- Weight/waist gain (increased abdominal fat)
- Blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Sleeplessness
- Digestion and gut issues
- Skin changes (increased bruising and stretch marks)
- Osteoporosis
The list is endless. The most common complaint I hear and struggle with myself is obsessive, compulsive thoughts that don't seem to stop. Especially at night when you lie down and try to go to sleep.
That is why I suggest a natural holistic approach when addressing the underlying reasons you’re having a hard time losing weight versus turning to alcohol, overeating/stress eating, or over-the-counter/prescription drugs. All of which make matters worse, making it harder to lose weight due to their effect on your liver and blood sugar levels.
When it comes to losing weight and melting belly fat, reducing cortisol (stress hormones) and improving the quality of your sleep matters more than you think. The best way to do that is to reduce cortisol levels naturally by stacking our new Stress Gummies, Lean Sleep, and 5-HTP Lean. And here's why...
When you sleep, your body goes through many restorative cycles that help to repair, restore, and recalibrate your physical and mental systems. It reboots itself.
The quality and duration of your sleep are critical factors in determining how well your body can perform these essential functions. If you don't sleep enough or the quality of your sleep isn't good, your body and brain can't reboot or reset cortisol levels.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that the quality of the final hours of sleep is THE most important. This time window is when the body is in its deepest and most restorative sleep cycle. Waking up abruptly during this period can prevent the body from fully recovering and rebooting, leading to physical and nutritional deficiencies (mental health is also affected) and increased cravings for sugar and carbs.
That's why IT'S CRUCIAL to learn how to relax earlier and ease your mind to prime your body for quality sleep.
Here is the sleep protocol I follow every night, especially now when I need sleep more than ever to protect my physical and mental health.
8:00 QUIET TIME: I pop two (2) Stress Gummies and brush my teeth, meaning no more eating. I begin decreasing phone and tablet time.
10:00: Take one (1) Lean Sleep and one (1) 5-HTP Lean, turn off the TV, and read a book if needed (a binder book, NOT Kindle or anything lighted).
I follow this protocol every day. The times may change due to what’s happening, But my protocol never changes except that I may take additional Stress Gummies or Lean Sleep when needed—both of which BOOST immunity too, which is paramount.
Getting enough quality sleep is crucial, and if possible, avoid setting an alarm to wake yourself up. If you’re not waking up naturally, you’re not going to bed early enough, and your body tells you you need more sleep, so avoid stimulating yourself with excessive amounts of caffeine or energy drinks. They do more harm than good and can have more harmful consequences than you might expect.
If you can plan your schedule to allow yourself to wake naturally and stop using typical sleep aids, you will feel your best and BE HEALTHY!
Sweet dreams, my friends!
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Lisa Lynn, Clinical Metabolic Nutrition & Fitness Expert and Associate Chaplain. She is best known for her 18+ years as Martha Stewart’s trainer, who was responsible for Martha’s over-50 amazing physical transformation that caught the attention of Dr. Oz, leading to her many appearances on the Dr. Oz Show. Lisa is not just another trainer; she lost 40 pounds and has kept it off, even with a sluggish thyroid and menopause.
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