5 factors that affect your weight (besides food)
We all know what we should be doing in order to lose weight – eat less processed food, reduce sugar, eat more fibre, drink more water. But besides what we put in our mouths, there are other factors that could be affecting the numbers on your bathroom scale. See if any of these ring true for you.
1. Stress
Whether it’s related to your kids, finances, your career or even just your difficult neighbours – stress has a big impact on our waistline. If you live in a constant state of stress, your body has to work overtime just to return you to baseline blood pressure and regulated cortisol levels. Over time this can manifest itself into weight gain around the abdomen and an increased likelihood of heart problems or blood pressure irregularities.
2. Fatigue
Not getting enough sleep doesn’t just put you in a bad mood; it’s bad for your body (especially if it’s a chronic situation). If you aren’t sleeping well, look at ways to change your bedtime routine and your sleep space to ensure maximum rest, so that you body can recharge. Being tired can lead to poor food choices (as does stress), which can impact your weight loss efforts. This is also true for shift workers, who have a disrupted circadian rhythm. If you are working nights or long hours it would be beneficial to take your own healthy meals to work with you rather than relying on options available from canteens or take away.
3. Hormones
Environmental factors can affect our hormone levels, which can lead to weight gain. For instance certain chemicals in plastics, pesticides used on crops, and other chemical in detergents and cosmetics can all affect your oestrogen levels.
4. Sedentary lifestyle
We’re all busy, but if you’re using your hectic schedule as a reason not to exercise you could be affecting your ability to lose weight. While we have all heard that weight loss is 80 per cent food and 20 per cent exercise, if your exercise component is closer to zero than twenty it might be time to make some changes.
5. Commitment
We all want instant results, and that’s probably why so many diets are referred to as ‘fads’ – they’re not made for the long term. But giving up on your healthy lifestyle after two weeks of ‘being good’ doesn’t give your body enough time to reap the benefits of the nutritious food and movement. Commit not to a diet but to a new way of life that incorporates exercise and healthy eating as the new normal and eventually you can’t help but notice the difference in your measurements.
If you’ve successfully lost weight before, we would love to hear your tips or advice for Over60 readers who are just starting out. Share your story in the comments below.