Less stress = less fat

Do you gain weight when you're stressed out? You're not alone. The majority of people seem to pack on pounds when they're extra busy or when something's worrying them. It might seem like stress leads to over-eating but that's only part of the answer -- a new study shows that stress triggers chemicals in your body to store more fat. I suspect this is an evolutionary response -- your body prepares itself for the event that food is scarce.

So if you're trying to lose weight, try your best to eliminate stress from your life. Conveniently, exercise is a great stress reliever -- particularly a gentle walk during or after a hurried day at the office. And remember to take it easy and you put yourself first sometimes.

How do you de-stress?