Why Does The Scale Go Up When I'm Stressed?

When the body is stressed, two pathways become upregulated, the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA) and the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS).

When the HPA Axis is upregulated, it will cause ACTH to become released from the pituitary to stimulate the adrenals to release cortisol. Cortisol has a high affinity for the MR receptor and increases your heart rate, and thus blood pressure.

The upregulated SNS will stimulate the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), which is a complex pathway designed to stimulate the release of aldosterone, another hormone that has a high affinity for the MR receptor.

Aldosterone specifically targets the kidneys to reabsorb Na+ (and thus Cl- and water), thus promoting water retention and increasing blood pressure.

The binding of this receptor is known to increase oxidative stress and inflammation systemically in the body. By default, this increases a person's risk of CVD and stroke.

As complicated as these physiological processes are, it is important to note the root cause of most of these problems. Stress. And this is one of many ways that the scale could be up during times of stress. Other things to consider:

1) Did you have a bowel movement? Was it your typical BM?

2) Did the stressful circumstance cause you to eat more than usual or eat foods you don't normally eat?

3) Did you sleep poorly?

4) Did you eat more carbohydrates?

5) Did you train the day prior?

There could be dozens of reasons why the scale could be up the day after a stressful circumstance, but the big takeaway is not to panic. Find ways in which to manage your stress and keep fighting the good fight!