I’m sure many of you have been in this situation before: You’re looking at yourself in the mirror, you’re checking the scale, and it shows you’ve gained weight. You’re not sure how this weight gain happened, but you want to put a stop to it right now and start a weight loss journey that gives you back your life.
Aside from the obvious cause of weight gain — eating way too much bad food — there are many hidden causes of weight gain that are worth understanding.
Lack of Sleep and Weight Gain
Believe it or not, a lack of sleep can lead to you gaining weight — even if you’re quite a healthy individual. How? Because your body starts storing fat when you’re tired and aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep per day. You also release hormones that make you feel hungry and don’t release the ones that try and curb your appetite.
Read: Weight and Sleep: What’s Keeping You Up at Night?
The solution? Plan your days better so you can sleep at least 7 hours per night, but preferably get that extra hour in for a solid 8 hours total.
Serious Injuries and Weight Gain
If you suffer a severe injury, then weight gain tends to go hand in hand with it. Think about it; you may be in a position where you can’t walk or do any physical activities for a few weeks or months because of your injury. But, you can still eat regularly, so you end up consuming calories but being unable to burn them.
One thing you can and should do to try and avoid inactivity during an injury is to attend physical rehab sessions. I know, some people may say that this is too expensive for them. In which case, I suggest trying to see if you can claim compensation for your injury if it wasn’t your fault. There’s loads of info on this topic, for more see Dolman Law. If you’re eligible, you can get the money you need to pay for rehab.
Read: 4 Easy Pilates moves You Can Do in a Chair
Another idea is to watch rehab tutorials on YouTube for your injury. Doing the rehabilitation exercises can be a good way of getting some slight activity into your days. Always check with your doctor before doing a rehab exercise regimen. You don’t want to injure yourself further!
Prescription Medication and Weight Gain
Ironically, the medication your doctor prescribes to make you heal sometimes can end up making you worse. There are lots of drugs out there, like anti-depressants and medical steroids, that can cause weight gain. They tamper with your metabolic rate and hormone levels, which leads to your body storing fat.
Read: Is Popping Pain Pills Popping Your Pants?
Sometimes you can switch to a different prescription medication that doesn’t cause weight gain. If that is not an option, then there isn’t a great deal you can do other than to stop taking the medication. Be sure to assess the situation with your doctor and see if you can live without the need for your prescription.
Final Thoughts on Weight Gain
The key to starting a weight loss journey is understanding what leads to the weight gain in the first place. If you thought it was one of the common reasons like overeating and exercising too little, but haven’t seen any weight loss despite improving your lifestyle, then perhaps the cause is one of the three things discussed in this article.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
