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Strategies for Stress with Elizabeth Girouard

Wouldn’t it be great if we craved a large veggie-filled salad when we’re stressed?  Hi again, I’m Elizabeth of Pure Simple Wellness back to talk about stress and how stress impacts your eating habits and what you can do about it! 

Unfortunately, when we are stressed or anxious, we tend to look for comfort and solace in food. And usually, it’s not healthy foods, instead it’s the foods created in a lab to light up the feel good sensors in your brain. Not only do your choices change when you’re stressed, but your body actually processes food differently. 

When you are stressed, your body releases chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. Elevated amounts of these hormones can increase your feelings of hunger, putting you on an endless cycle of eating more less healthful foods. 

Since you know stress leads towards less healthy options, what strategies can you use to set yourself up for success? 

  1. Name your stressors: What are the top things that cause you to stress and how else can you manage that stress?
  2. Move your body: Fit exercise into your schedule, even if all you have time for is a brisk 10-minute walk. 
  3. Eat mindfully: When you eat, take a few minutes to give gratitude for your meal and focus on what you are eating. Take a few deep breaths before you start eating to move to the rest and digest state. Stress is something you can’t avoid, but you can have strategies to address it. For example, do you feel stressed because you’re unorganized, unprepared, or your home is in disarray. These things are common, but fixable! Which brings us to….
  4. Have a plan: Make a plan to tackle the things that are causing you stress, and start chipping away at them, a little bit each day. By reducing your stress, you’ll be amazed how your digestion improves, your sleep quality improves, and you’ll feel lighter.

If stress comes on quickly and you start having unhealthy cravings, a great way to help you eat and snack more mindfully, is having a plan. This way, even if the urge comes on quickly, you have a simple, satisfying snack that keeps you satiated until your next meal. Grab your guide to 40+Simple and Satisfying Snack Ideas so you have a plan in place for every type of craving: crunchy, salty, sweet, and more. All delicious and zero guilt! https://mailchi.mp/puresimplewellness/simplesnackguide

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.