1. STRESS

My family PCS’d to our new duty station 10 months ago. It wasn’t our first move, nor our second. It was in fact, our fourth move; fifth if you count our brief stint with apartment living while awaiting base housing. This was not my first rodeo. After all, it’s like riding a bike, right? WRONG. We spent 8 solid years at our previous duty station and I had mistakenly thought that this PCS was no different than any other. I was inexplicably thrust into a world I had forgotten. I left my awesome job, our awesome friends, and our awesome community. That was a given…I knew what was going to happen and had prepared for those things. However, what I hadn’t considered were the little facets of life that would also impact me. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the numbers on my scale creeping higher and higher over the first 6 months after moving. The dreaded PCS Weight Gain . I shouldn’t have been surprised when my ‘ perfect fit ’ jeans transformed into ' barely fit ' jeans. Needless to say, I definitely felt some type of way about this. So I decided to modify my routine, schedule, and mind-set. While I was getting back on track, I felt the overwhelming need to re-trace my steps and figure out exactly HOW I had gained 12 lbs ( which, on a 5’3 frame, is really hard to miss. ) So I decided to use my skills in the social sciences and poll 40 military spouses to see if they experienced any weight fluctuation during or up to 6 months post-PCS. 35 out of 40 respondents reported weight gain after PCS, 3 reported weight loss and 2 reported no change in weight. WOW. Again, it should not be a surprise, but to go more in-depth, I engaged a few participants and asked them why they thought their bodies responded this way during PCS. There were several responses that I’m sure we can all relate to in some way. Let’s look at the top 3. [caption id="attachment_7494" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Let your voice be heard at PCSgrades.com [/caption] 1. STRESS We all know that our bodies will produce copious amounts of the stress hormone cortisol , when we are enduring trying situations, especially a PCS . Cortisol has been known to contribute to belly fat, as well as jump-start our cravings for junk food. This doesn’t help when we’re already reaching for these types of foods due to time constraints. One respondent hit the nail on the head when she said: “I'm a stress eater, so as the PCS Cycle raves up, the pounds line up and pack on accordingly to my hips, butt, and thighs as I purge the house. Still trying to figure out how to purge pounds from the house and my hips.” 2. Availability of Food Not only is it completely normal to want to sample the local cuisine at our new location, we also tend to get really excited when we are now in close proximity to our nearest and dearest favorites again (In-and-Out burgers anyone?) This cause of weight gain might be expected and even pre-planned for. Besides, it’s not as if we always have a choice, right? But what if you experienced weight gain due to a lack or shortage of foods? One respondent stated that she gained a total of 15 lbs over a 2 year period at a more remote duty station. One of the contributing factors to this was a lack of fresh produce. [caption id="attachment_7495" align="aligncenter" width="277"] Photo Taken By: Danielle Medolla[/caption] “It's very common for the barge to bypass us with food to deliver it down to chain (stores). And weather impacts food that is delivered by plane.” 3. Lack of Exercise While I realize that not everyone maintains their weight with a workout plan, our level of exercise is still a factor. Consider this - if you were to move from a job where you’re on your feet for 8 hours to a job where you are sedentary for 8 hours, you would most likely have to either up your game at the gym or eliminate something significant from your current diet. You’re environment and how you utilize your environment are factors in weight fluctuation. The same rules apply to stay healthy during a PCS . Maybe you’ve moved to an apartment complex where there are no sidewalks or parks to run in. Maybe you’re isolated from the military community and haven’t found a workout buddy. Maybe the level of pollution in the air doesn’t allow for a brisk walk with the dog. Most notably, what if you have trouble finding a job at your new location? All of these scenarios play a huge part in weight fluctuation. Even our new schedules, while temporary, have an enormous impact on our health and weight. “Living on the road threw off my work out/training routine. Starting work again, setting up the house, finding a new gym, etc, (can) takes another month or two to re-establish daily routines.” Among the top 3 reported causes of PCS weight gain in this poll were several other contributing factors that may impact our bodies and minds in one form or another. Many of the respondents also stated that issues such as isolation, financial status, lack of employment, and lack of support resources all had a hand in adding on those extra pounds. Even the way we perceive a PCS can have an impact on the scale numbers. Me personally? I’m kicking these post-PCS pounds to the curb as we speak, but hopefully I will remember that this is a real phenomenon in our culture and next time I’ll be better prepared ( and by prepared, I mean I’ll pre-plan for those In-and-Out burgers. ) How did YOUR body react to PCSing? Hit us up on Facebook and let us know! >> Connect with us on Facebook!

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