Secret to weight loss = Job Loss!

Lose a job lose a pound. In my case the 20 pounds I have been looking to lose. I'm not sure though whether to celebrate or sulk.

In retrospect, I believe my difficulty in losing weight may have been because of the constant stress I was under at my last job.

The hormone Cortisol as been linked to weight gain. According to a posting in About.com chronic stress and cortisol can contribute to weight gain in the following ways:

Metabolism -- Do you feel like you're prone to putting on more weight when you're stressed, even if you're eating the same amount of food as you always have? Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience. This also makes dieting more difficult.

Cravings -- People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods. This includes sweets, processed food and other things that aren’t as good for you. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain.

Blood Sugar -- Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Too much stress has even been linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health concerns that can lead to greater health problems, like heart attacks and diabetes.

Even though my dietary habits have not signifcantly changed since I lost my job, I have lost the addtional pounds that were clinging to me like pennant hope to a Cubs fan.

Losing that job may have been the key to getting me over the hump. The lesson? Well, the lesson is work on reducing your job-related stress and maybe the excess pounds will let go before you are.