Although diet and exercise have been touted as the holy grail when it comes to losing stubborn weight. In reality we know that this is not altogether the truth. Yes, diet and exercise play a major role in weight loss and management. Those two cousins are not the only things that play a major role in us reaching our weight loss goals.
In this brief article I’m going to mention a few other reasons why diet and exercise aren’t the only things we need to concern ourselves with when it comes to our weight.
- You are not getting enough sleep
There is definitely a relationship that exists between the quantity and quality of the sleep that we get. When we lack sleep, our bodies try to compensate by sending us signals to eat more. The reason for this is because, basically we losing precious energy, and the body has to make up for that loss somehow.
The caveat to this is this, we don’t generally reach for some grilled vegetables or baked chicken. No, instead we reach for potato chips, soda, and sugary foods that we know were not supposed to eat. Hey, here’s a bit of good news. You don’t have to beat yourself up to much about this. Our bodies are actually trying to get the fastest form of energy that it feels it can get. High glycemic foods, sugars, and salts meet that description. On top of that, we are chemically hooked on our junk food selections. I know this is a dirty game.
2. You are Stressed Out
When we have too much pressure, and we all can feel that way sometimes. Our bodies release excess stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol can cause the body to actually resist insulin. This in turn, raises our blood sugar levels and causes the body to increase its fat storage. So instead of burning off fat, our bodies are holding on to it, because it thinks it needs it to survive. Believe it or not we are still pretty much cave men physiologically. We are cave men that have too much food to eat (LOL)
Psychologically, stress eating is a real thing. Too much stress can trigger a sudden drop in our blood sugar and that can stimulate our appetites.
3 You Are Getting Older
As we age our metabolisms tend to slow down and the body is less able to produce muscle. Muscle burns fat. So we need muscle in our weight loss pursuits.
4 You Are Dehydrated
Water helps to regulate our metabolism and digestion. Dehydration actually increases our appetite. The body is trying to get it’s precious fluids from somewhere. A lot of times our bodies are telling us that it needs more water. Unconsciously, we reach for food instead of water. Of course this can cause weight gain.
5. Your Medication
Many medications are known to have weight gain as a side effect. If not weight gain directly, then indirectly, by increasing stress which can lead to “stress eating”. Medications like beta-blockers (for hypertension and high blood pressure), antidepressants, anticonvulsants (seizures), antipsychotics, diabetes medicines (e.g. insulin), and steroids. I know first hand how steroids can cause major weight gain.
6. Your Underlying Medical Conditions
Conditions like diabetes, fluid retention, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), underactive thyroid, and other issues that can effect the bodies endocrine system.
I wrote all of this to say that there are more reasons than willpower, discipline, diet, and exercise that effect our ability to lose weight. My hope is that we become more loving with ourselves and others on their journeys. I believe that real love brings about healing. This healing is not something that is airy fairy, but this is something that is real. I don’t know about you, but I believe in miracles. I believe in hard work, I teach it, I live it. But there are some things in life, that need a supernatural touch on them if you will.
Let’s work hard, train hard, eat smart, but above all else, Love Harder. Until next time God Bless
