How to Handle Stress (Sweat the Big Stuff)
I am so stressed!! And I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who
feels this way. The economy is in shambles, people are losing their
jobs and their homes and I can’t help but wonder, “Am I next?”
California just passed Proposition 8, which took away my right to marry
(not that there’s anyone proposing to me…but still) and "Pushing Daisies"
is getting taken off the air! I mean, really? That’s a GREAT show!
Now my initial reaction to stress is to:
1. Eat everything in sight.
2. Have a martini for lunch. Or two. Or three . . .
3. Key the cars that STILL have the “Yes on 8” bumper stickers on them. Smug bastards!
Though these are all tempting ways to de-stress, the best and most healthy way is to exercise. It might be wise to not “sweat the small stuff,” but when it comes to historic, life-altering events, I say, sweat to your heart’s content!!
Stress can have many negative effects on the body. This is due to the body’s ability to produce a hormone called cortisol. Before I mention the negative, let me say there are some benefits to cortisol. When you are in a “fight or flight” situation, cortisol helps give you a burst of energy, heightened memory functions, and a lower sensitivity to pain. Great when a cougar is chasing you.
However, with the good comes the bad -- suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone-density, decreased muscle tissue, and the ever popular increased abdominal fat! Yikes! So unless you are running from a fang-baring predator (Edward Cullen doesn’t count, for all you "Twilight "fans), cortisol does not do your body good.
Needless to say, weight gain is fairly easy in times of stress. Which is why it is so important to exercise during stressful situations. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, which energize the body and create a feeling of happiness. This enables you to turn that stressful time into something that you can handle. Lift weights, take a dance class, hike or bike ride . . . just get moving! Other positive ways to handle stress are:
1. Get a massage.
2. Listen to relaxing music.
3. Take a bubble bath in a candlelit bathroom.
4. See a funny movie and laugh your butt off.
5. Make love with that special someone.
Try one or all of these de-stressers. You can probably accomplish all of them on a good date night! On that note, I’m going to get my stressed-out butt to the gym . . . once I finish this martini.
(Photo: Getty Images)
A.C.E.- and N.A.S.M.-certified, Bobby Solorio has been personal
training for 10 years. You might recognize him from Bravo TV's "Kathy Griffin: My Life
on the D-List," where he trains his now-A-list client. For more info, check out
Bobby's website.
Posted by Bobby Solorio on December 1, 2008 in Fitness
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I love how this ends!:) great write! I agree with it all!
Posted by: David | December 15, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I love how this ends!:) great write! I agree with it all!
Posted by: David | December 15, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Glad you liked it and I hope it's working!
Posted by: Bobby Solorio | December 19, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I'am Chinese ,I want to know a foriner, you can contanct me
Posted by: vicky | January 03, 2009 at 05:58 AM
This is great... I'm going to make sure my partner reads this... He's a bit stressed out right now himself..
Posted by: David B | January 03, 2009 at 07:19 AM
Nice article and I agree with everything you've said except one point. I drink Manhattans straight up not martinis!
Seriously though, every year I make a new years resolution to get my butt into the gym and I'm good for about 4 weeks. After that I just get so freekin tried of going. People suggest changing my routine, going at different hours of the day, going with a buddy, etc. The thing is I just get bored. Do you have any suggestions?
Posted by: Adam | January 03, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Comparing prop 8 to jobs, I'll take jobs any day. Most people would.
Posted by: HT | January 03, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Concern troll is concerned!!
Posted by: HT is a concern troll | January 03, 2009 at 02:12 PM
A little known fact before modern drugs, psychology, sociology and medicine....the prescription for hysteria, depression, stress and many nervous related anxieties was sex.
How wonderful it would be to go into a doctors office and get a prescription for a slow message, a deep tongue kiss, a big mushroom penis for long BJ or a rapid fire session of intercourse.
Volunteers! Now how exactly would the nurse or pharmacist fulfill that prescription?
Posted by: tom | January 03, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Hey Adam,
If you are wanting to put on muscle then you need to stay in the gym. Do you listen to music? Maybe the gym you belong to isn't motivating enough. i.e. bad equipment, lack of fun fitness classes, not enough eye candy. lol If you aren't trying to gain a whole lot of muscle and just want to stay fit then do something that you ENJOY. Bike ride, play volleyball, or join a gay sports team. Good luck. You can do it! Make this year's goal to last longer than 8 weeks...by then it should become a habit.
Posted by: Bobby Solorio | January 03, 2009 at 07:02 PM
I am sundeep from Kolkata. i am 33. i am a gay. i need a gay friend who should be handsome and decent.
Posted by: Sundeep Banerjee | January 04, 2009 at 06:41 AM
I agree!
Posted by: Wyatt1969again | January 04, 2009 at 11:15 AM
can't you just shop... with a visa... retail therapy is just as good.
... and on-line shopping is the best... because you feel good the day you order it... and the day it arrives. A Win-Win!
Posted by: Matthew | January 04, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Matthew, I agree with you! Whats the point of being buff if you are not surrounded by nice things!
Posted by: Mark | January 04, 2009 at 11:17 PM
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Posted by: Stress management | June 24, 2009 at 09:51 PM
i love yuo
Posted by: zizo | June 26, 2009 at 02:11 PM