Cortisol

TracyO · Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:09 pm

Hi there!

This is day 3, Phase 1 for me, and I've been on every other diet that I can think of, and thought I'd give SB a try. One thing is bugging me though, I've been hearing more and more about a thing called Cortisol, which is a stress hormone from what I understand. I am always stressed out and am wondering if this might be why I haven't had any luck losing any weight. There are a few products out there that are supposed to help with Cortisol, one of them is called CortiSlim. Does anyone know if these products are safe, and if not, how else can I help with the Cortisol thing?

Help!!

:(

OldGreyBob · Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:38 pm

A little short advice from a stressed person, you are only in day 3 of phase 1, stick with it for the full 2 weeks you might be surprised. I sure was! 2 weeks is short period of time and then if nothing happens, then think about additives.

When I say I am a stressed person, I am a computer quality assurance tester for all new web-based applications for a department in the State of Wisconsin.

TracyO · Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:56 pm

Ok...you're right, I'll wait until my 2 weeks is up and go from there.
Thanks for the info!
:lol:

CarraM · Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:47 pm

Don't know about cortisol, but a few years ago I weighed over 240 pounds. I left a very stressful night-shift job and without even trying, I began to very slowly lose weight without much effort. This was long before I deceloped diabetes. It took several years but I eventually was at 140 pounds. I don't know if it was stress that caused weight issues or the fact that I constantly ate from vending machines (pastries, cookies, Cokes, etc), but the weight did come off once I found a job I loved. I maintain this weight most of the time, with the exception of gaining during holidays, and recently gained steroid weight. I started the SB diet because it seems a good way to eat without deprivation and the fact that it lowers glucose levels. I was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago. Both parents had it, so I was destined, I guess.

peacefulpath · Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:08 pm

Take it from an experienced stress eater, Cortisol is a double-edged sword as far as hormones go. We absolutely need it in life or death situations. That's what bucks us up in those "fight or flight" situations. Fortunately, evolution has brought us to a place where we don't have to worry about being eaten by a saber-tooth tiger. Unfortunately, when those stressful situations hit us now, we don't have to run or slug it out. Instead, we turn to something that comforts us - FOOD!!!

As a massage therapist, I see the other results of stress in the form of knotted muscles and all kinds of aches and pains. The things we do to ourselves ....... just horrible!

Anyway, I'm over that rant, but wanted to share this website that helps evaluate stress levels. There are all kinds of things to do to help bring down stress (like get a massage! :D ) that are great. The easiest is to just close your eyes, and breathe deeply 10 times. (Not in traffic, though - keep your eyes opened! :shock: )
http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/7/1674_52144.htm?z=1674_52145_5003_00_05

Have a peaceful day!!

MsRosemarie1369 · Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:06 pm

I have tried the Corti-Less pills, which are GNCs version of Corti-Slim. They lowered my blood pressure alot :shock: , and I have normal blood pressure. No weight loss from them either. I went and saw my doctor today, and he told me they don't work. Hmm, already figured THAT one out! Save yourself the money.

Tubby Teacher · Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:17 pm

Cortisol: here's the National Library of Medicine Site, which is a reputable source.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003693.htm

"Physical and emotional stress can increase serum cortisol, because a normal response to stress involves increased secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland."

Increases in cortisol in your bloodstream raises your level of active blood sugar. It also can inhibit your immune system resulting in more frequent colds and flu. However, it works for you when you are frightened, because it helps to release sugars into your blood so you can make a quick exit. The problem is that if you have a stressful job, your body releases cortisol to help you make your get away but you actually cannot run.

The 90 pounds that I packed on when I hit perimenopause were directly connected to a stressful job, a stressful change in my body, raising a teenager with learning disorders, and a tendency to mull over things while exercising instead of letting them "go."

My physician even prescribed weekly massages because I was losing the feeling in my hands due to tight shoulder muscles rather than carpel tunnel. She also recommended that we get a rocking chair! Both seemed to help, but the real release came when I was laid off. I had been harassed in my job by my manager as well as a coworker, and women do not tend to recover as well from harassment as men. (see www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C314241.html ).

Don't bother with the TV product. Instead, check out some relaxation techniques like biofeedback, massage, rocking, warm water therapy, and journaling. Also, Cortisol tends to pull calcium out of your bones, so if you are highly stressed make sure you supplement your calcium.

OldGreyBob · Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:33 pm

I am not sure that men recover from harrassment any better than women, but that is neither here nor there. Relaxation is a key to handling stress. My form of relaxation is that I started, in my mid fifties, playing a musical instrument, the Irish Tin Whistle. I never will be a great musician, even some doubt about a musician! That is not important, the important part is that I lose myself in the music and in turn relax.

rockinorror · Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:29 am

I had cortisol related weight gain last spring during my spring semseter finals. I gained 8 pounds in two weeks! 36 hours after all of my finals were over I was down 4 pounds already! By the end of the week I was back to my normal overweight weight. This semester during school I am trying to not be as stressed out and I am trying to create situations for myself so that I do not become stressed. I am spending more time on schoolwork so that I am not as frustrated with not knowing what's going on. My main frustration right now though is still my weight because I have about 20 pounds that I need to lose. But yes, cortisol is something that you might want to think about and think about after you follow through with the first two weeks of the SBD.

adiposy · Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:59 pm

I have been using relacore, which claims the same things that Cortislim does. I have found that it really does help me with cravings and I am able to eat "like a normal person". I'm not hungry all the time, but it doesn't make me jittery an I am able to eat the amounts I supposed to and yet feel satisfied. For me, thats half the battle. Because if I am HUNGRY, I am going to EAT. :D

gman4510 · Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:25 am

I have been taking http://relacore.com also. I have noticed that my stress level is going down also. I have lost some weight and feeling great.

:D [/url]

audreyh1 · Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:12 pm

I think yoga has a more established track record of reducing cortisol and other stress hormones than Cortislim does. Several lawsuits against Cortislim for false advertising.

Maybe there are some yoga classes you can attend? Just learning to do the breathing can make all the difference.

Audrey

traciemey · Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:33 pm

I just joined this site today. As a health professional (Registered Dietitian) I am often frustrated by all the junk science on the web and TV. A friend was telling me about Corti Slim yesterday, I try not to argue with people too much and yesterday I was just too tired to go into it.
I'm impressed that there are people out there that know the truth, yes stress is the enemy but a pill is not going to change your stress level. Only lifestyle changes really make a difference. Actually I suppose a pill or a drug can change your stress level, but is that healthy?
I could take a pill to wake me in the morning, a pill to calm me down in the evening, a pill to make me not care that my kids are bouncing off the walls or that I'm sitting it traffic. And how much is this gonna cost me, financially and physically.

I like the massage idea, the yoga etc.

Exercise is proven to combat Cortisol production and you also get the cardiovascular benefits as well.

LOWCARBnBARB · Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:51 pm

I have been on antidepressants for most of my life now and have had serious problems with stress and anxiety in the past (still stress but much less anxiety). I have no idea if the illness has any relation to cortisol but when I was found to be infertile they did cortisol tests and found that my whole system operates out of whack. Your cortisol levels should be high in the morning and deplete over the day and then be restored as you sleep so it's ready for the next day. Mine on the other hand start out at a level considered to be the low-bedtime-level and go downhill from there. Don't know why. The doc was even stumped but the fact that she didn't treat it must speak to something about how effective the drugs are to control cortisol levels.

I've wondered about Cortislim when I see the commercials but only to the extent that I wonder what it is and how it's supposed to work.

Barb


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