For those who do too much, diet and fitness goals may move further and further away from your top priorities. At some point, this may be taking a serious toll on your body. As your wellness moves all the way to the back of your mind, you may be unintentionally sabotaging your health in ways that can be easily tweaked without giving up very much time. Here are some habits that may not seem inherently unhealthy, but are actually causing weight gain.
You don’t get enough sleep
When you don’t get enough sleep, you may be feeling hungry all day even when your body is full. This is mainly due to the fact that proper sleep will regulate levels of ghrelin, which is the hormone that controls your appetite. If you are consistently underslept, your body harms your metabolism and contributes to even more weight gain.
Skipping meals
A common misconception is that skipping meals will help you to lose weight, however, the opposite is true. When you skip a meal, you slow down your metabolism, which can slow down how fast your body can process food. Skipping meals also usually leads to overeating during your next meal. It is much healthier to eat small, nutritious portions throughout the day rather than eat all your calories in one sitting.
Low-fat foods
We’re all enticed by low-fat versions of our favorite junk foods, promising the same flavor but not the same effect on our waistline. However, these types of foods simply replace fat with sugar or chemicals that are just as unhealthy and will leave you faster cravings.
Eating while watching TV
It is so easy to sit in front of the TV, mindlessly eating a bag of potato chips—all while being so engrossed in the show that you do not even notice the high-calorie, low-nutrition food that you are consuming. Not only do you eat more when you are distracted, but studies also show that you are more likely to snack afterward because you don’t remember what you previously ate!
Eating too fast
Almost all of us are guilty of this, whether we are in a rush or the food tastes too good not to gobble it down. However, eating slower can actually help you to cut down on your portions in a natural, healthy way. In fact, a study actually claims that those who eat slowly actually eat a third less than those who eat quickly.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2012/04/24/9-bad-habits-that-make-you-fat/#332af7a32923
https://www.thecrazyfacts.com/10-common-habits-make-fat/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/sleep-and-weight-loss#2
https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/top-10-bad-habits-that-lead-to-weight-gain#2
