June 19 Weekly Technique

Heart racing. Palms sweating. The overwhelming feeling of ugh. When you notice yourself slipping into Stress Mode, pause and bring yourself back to the present with our 5-4-3-2-1 technique.

Stress is a normal part of life-and chances are you've experienced it recently. Maybe you were worried about an upcoming project at work or rethinking how you responded to a tough convo with your partner. No matter what causes those stressful moments, they can have a real impact on your overall health and your weight-loss efforts. Not only can stress trigger hormones that increase appetite and lead you to reach for foods higher in sugar and fat, it can also keep you from being active.

The good news? Practicing mindfulness can help anchor yourself in the here and now and quiet your brain and body's stress response. We're not saying this exercise can make your worries disappear completely. (We wish!) Instead, think of the 5-4-3-2-1 technique as a steadying force whenever the waters get a little rough-it can't change the chaos that may be happening around you, but it can help change how you respond to it. And shifting how you respond to those stressful moments can help you take back control and make choices that support your journey.