For centuries people have fought with the struggles of weight, whether it has been directly or having a friend or sibling dealing with the issue. Now I know there are a thousand different “quick-fix” solutions, super pills, or diets that claim to be a real cure. But has anyone actually tried one of these and kept the weight off for more than six months? I’m guessing probably not. One thing we have to understand is that it took a while for us to get out of shape (I’m talking at a minimum of months to potentially years), so it most likely will take some time for that weight to come off too. If weight comes off too quickly, there will not be enough time for our bodies to properly adjust to the new way our body is functioning. What is the result of this? Our bodies will put the weight back on, and probably even more!
There are many reasons individuals gain excess weight on their bodies, with many depending on specific conditions and/or genetics. On the other hand, a lot of it has to do with what we put into our bodies in conjunction with a sedentary lifestyle. So with that said, here are some of the most common reasons and possible remedies:
#6 Medications – Medications can decrease a person’s metabolism resulting in an increase in weight. There are currently around 50 medications that are on the list of weight gaining meds. Steroids like prednisone and antidepressants Zoloft and Paxil are jus a few. Check with your doctor to see if the medication you are on may put weight on and if there is a different prescription available that may have less of this side affect.
#5 Diseases or conditions – People with thyroid disease, diabetes, essential fatty acid deficiencies, kidney or liver diseases, and Cushing’s syndrome find it hard to lose and keep weight off due to the impact of his or her condition. Proper medications and/or diets determined by your physician may be able to help.
#4 Genetics – Even though some people may use this as a reason more times than not, there is actually some truth to it. Genes regulate how the body obtains, stores, and uses energy from food. Since everybody has different genetic make ups, their specific genes can attribute. It can be helpful to check your family’s records on some possible trends in your family history that may result in being overweight. If there are trends spotted, it is time to make a change.
#3 Stress – When people experience high levels of stress, a hormone called cortisol is released into the bloodstream and helps to release sugar. But if all of the sugar is not used as energy, the body deposits it as fat. There are a number of ways to manage stress. They include but are not limited to breathing techniques, meditation, quitting smoking or drinking alcohol, going for a walk, read, listen to music, or just simply smile (you may be surprised how easily this one works).
#2 Sedentary living – The vast majority of the population is for lack of a better word (and I’m not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings here), lazy. People are so technologically driven now with 3D high definition televisions, video games, computers, cell phones, and on and on. Unfortunately this is more prevalent these days with younger and younger children. We, as individuals or groups, need to incorporate ways to move and keep our “furnace” burning on a daily basis. There are literally thousands of ways to stay active. Go for a walk, take the stairs instead of an elevator, park further away from the mall or store entrance, ride a bike, play with your dog, play a sport, join a fitness center, go swimming, maintain a garden. The main idea is to just get up and move around for at least one hour a day. Your body will thank you in the long run in ways you can’t possibly imagine!
#1 Overeating – Not surprisingly, this is the main culprit of the issue. Now without going into specifics or throwing a multitude of numbers and percentages at you, let’s just all agree that a lot of us are most likely eating way too much on a daily basis. Agreed? Ok, so let’s look at some reasons why: boredom, comfort, deprivation, and depression.
When people are bored, they may find themselves eating for the sake of having nothing else to do. Find a hobby or something else that interests you in which to invest your time, resulting in that voided feeling disappearing.
When it comes to the comfort aspect, people tend to eat when they lack that feeling of self-satisfaction, whether it is from work or from a significant other. Combat this by taking some time out for yourself. You can get a manicure or pedicure at the salon, get a massage, meditate, or go for a walk in the park. Just find something that makes you feel special and plan on spoiling yourself every once in a while.
Moving on, even though the amount of food we are consuming at one time may not be abundant, it may still leave us with a sense of feeling deprived. This results from the actual food you are consuming. They may not contain enough of the essential nutrients your body craves, whether it is carbs, proteins, or healthy fats. The solution is to make sure every time you make a food choice, make sure there are sufficient amounts of nutrients. All you have to do is simply look at the food label to determine if it is a good food choice or not.
Depression is a terrible condition that affects millions of people in the U.S. As a result of this people turn to food as a coping mechanism. Due to some foods being higher in sugar, they temporarily lift the mood of the individual. As this feeling dissipates, the cycle may begin all over again resulting in eventual weight gain. In order to begin the road to recovery, it is vital that the first step involves seeking professional treatment. Once this has happened, your caregiver will be able to specifically diagnose what may ail you and specific guidelines tailored to you in order to get better. Some ways to help yourself may include exercising regularly, challenging negative thoughts, eat healthy whole foods instead of refined ones loaded with sugar, and making time for yourself to just relax from the stressors of the world.
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