It’s not uncommon to gain a few pounds without knowing where they came from. The average weight of Americans is around 181 pounds, and many don’t know how they’ve gained this weight. From late-night snacking to not getting enough exercise, the reasons why you’re gaining weight can be hard to pinpoint. So read on for five reasons you may be putting on the pounds without knowing it.
Eating Too Many Calories
Even if you’re eating healthy foods, you can still eat too many calories and gain weight. If your calorie intake exceeds what your body needs, the excess will be stored as fat, leading to unwanted weight gain. To avoid this, consider how much food you’re consuming and ensure that it’s in line with your recommended caloric intake for your desired body composition.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can cause an increase in hunger hormones and decreased satiety hormones, making it more likely for you to overeat throughout the day. When trying to lose or maintain weight, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night for your metabolism and energy levels to remain balanced.
Stress Eating
Stress eating is a common reason people gain weight without realizing it. When feeling anxious or overwhelmed, it’s easy to turn towards food as a coping mechanism instead of healthier options such as talking through your problems or exercising. Instead, acknowledge when stress is causing unhealthy cravings and seek more productive ways of dealing with stress before reaching for food that could lead to undesired weight gain.
Lacking Variety in Diet
Eating the same foods day after day doesn’t offer enough variety in terms of nutrients that are necessary for optimal health and wellness; this can result in an imbalance which can lead to weight gain over time if left unchecked. Instead, incorporate vegetables from each color group into meals. You get all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs while avoiding monotony from having too much of one type of food daily.
Being Sedentary
Long periods spent sitting down throughout the day, even if you don’t realize it, can contribute to slower metabolism rates because there isn’t enough activity happening regularly enough for the body’s systems to stay active and healthy; this leads to gradual increases in fat storage over time which adds up gradually but eventually results in noticeable changes on the scale if not counteracted by regular physical activity such as walking or running daily or doing strength training exercises at least twice a week.
Additional Tips to Avoid Unwanted Weight Gain
As mentioned above, several factors could lead to weight gain without being aware immediately. Taking steps towards achieving balance will help keep any unwarranted gains at bay so that you remain fit and healthy in your mind and body! Here are some extra tips you should know to prevent you from gaining weight over time.
Prepare Your Kitchen
You need to start cooking your food to avoid processed foods that are often full of sodium and added sugars. Make sure your kitchen is stocked with healthy ingredients, so if you start craving food while hungry, you can make a nutritious meal instead of grabbing whatever’s in the pantry or fridge.
Additionally, ensure that your kitchen is set up for cooking. If you don’t want to do this, consider hiring a kitchen remodeling company to do it for you. They can remodel your kitchen in an efficient way that’ll help you cook more efficiently in the long run.
Eat Mindfully
The next time you’re eating a meal, take the time to savor each bite and focus on what you’re eating. Don’t watch TV or scroll through social media while consuming your food. Instead, use that time to connect with yourself more fully by thinking about where your food is coming from, how it was prepared, and why you chose the foods you did that day.
Take Advantage of Technology
There are tons of apps available that make leading a healthy lifestyle more accessible than ever. From calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal to fitness monitoring devices like FitBit, plenty of tools are at your disposal that makes it easier and more enjoyable to stay in shape. Technology can help keep you motivated and on track with your goals!
Join a Fitness Group
Finding people with similar interests and goals can be incredibly helpful when trying to stay in shape. For example, joining an exercise class or taking up a team sport with friends or family members can be an effective way to stay engaged with physical activity and hold yourself accountable for visiting active each week. Plus, it’s a lot more fun than exercising alone!
Gaining unwanted weight is easier than you might think, but with the right mindset and knowledge about the factors contributing to weight gain, it becomes easier to avoid those gains and keep your body in optimal shape. Trying these tips today is a great way to start taking control of your health!
