4 Sneaky Reasons for Weight Gain

I got on the scale this morning…and y’all. It was not pretty. Granted, I’m nowhere near my heaviest weight. But still. I’ve been working hard on cleansing my body of toxins and foods that cause me to bloat or have other issues.

But the scale got stuck, and then moved in the wrong direction over the weekend. Granted, I’ve been overwhelmed with balancing work and home…but that couldn’t cause me to gain weight…could it?

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Turns out, it can. And it probably did. When I started digging into the possibilities of weight gain that didn’t involve a double quarter pounder, there were some surprising finds.

WEIGHT GAIN

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Lack of Sleep

Most people think that if they sleep less they’ll be able to get up earlier to exercise…which isn’t entirely true. If you’re up late, you’re probably doing some late-night snacking, which means that you are taking in more calories than you would have if you’d gone to bed.

As if that weren’t enough, when you’re sleep-deprived changes in hormone levels increase hunger and appetite and actually decrease your satiety (what makes you feel full after a meal).

I am especially guilty of staying up late because of television (who else is watching Westworld?!). I re-started Make Over Your Evenings last week, and I’m already feeling better. I’m restructuring my time so that I can ensure I’m getting everything done and avoiding overwhelm (which causes me to stay up late and watch movies and snack).

Medication

When I started treating my post partum depression, I notice that the scale went up a bit. This is not uncommon with antidepressants.

Many people find that an initial gain of 5-15 pounds over the course of a year is quite “normal”.  But antidepressants aren’t the half of it. There’s a long list of medications that can cause weight gain: birth control pills or implants, excess hormones for hormone therapy, steroids, beta-blockers for heart disease and blood pressure, anti-seizure meds…the list goes on.

Now, most of us who take medications actually need them. So rather than tell you to get off your meds, I suggest working with your doctor to stabilize any gains you are seeing.

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Poor Digestion

Digestive issues, including slow bowel movements, may also account for excess pounds. In an ideal world, you eat and an hour or so later you have a bowel movement. Raise your hand if this isn’t the case with you.

You are not alone. Once or twice a day is still considered healthy, but if you’re not experiencing some “alone time” at least once  day, there may be something wrong.  Dehydration, medication, low fiber, or even a lack of good flora in your gut could be the issue.

If constipation is your only symptom, then adding quality probiotics can help your digestive tract work properly.  If you’re still having trouble, find a naturopath who can help you rule out a range of disorders, including hypothyroidism or even a neurological issue.

Extra Calories

Are you guilty of “finishing” your kid’s meals, or taking a bite from their plate? What about juice and soda?

These calories add up quickly, but none more so that those from juices and soft drinks. And drinking your calories messes with your body’s satiety.

Remember that satiety relates to how long we stay satisfied after we eat something. 

So. Let’s all pledge to get more sleep, take our probiotic, and stop drinking our calories, shall we?

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Which one are you guilty of?

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Brea

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