We all know that eating poorly and failing to exercise is the best way to stay fat, but there are other factors that can lead to excess weight gain. While some of these factors may be out of your control, there are a few that you can address, starting today. In many cases, until you make these changes, your dieting efforts may not be as successful as they could be. Let’s take a look at just a few of the things that may be making you fat and how to nip them in the bud.

Problem One - A Lack of Sleep.

Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can lead to excess weight gain for a number of reasons. First, your hormone levels are thrown off when your body does not get the sleep it needs. Many of these hormones are responsible for weight gain, especially around the middle section. Second, when you do not get enough sleep, your body needs additional fuel to keep going. This leads to eating more than you should and before you know it, you’ve got a real problem on your hands.

Solution: These studies recommend getting around eight hours of sleep a night. If you are finding this difficult, you may need to take a hard look at your schedule. Granted, there may be a few things that you cannot control, but on the other hand, many of us waste quite a bit of time each day. Try turning off the television for a week and see just how much extra time you have – that could be devoted to recharging your body.

Problem Two – An Excess Amount of Stress.

This is a huge problem for millions of people and if it is outside stress, it may be difficult to control it. When you are under stress, your body is producing more cortisol, a hormone that has been blamed for weight gain. Once again, you have a similar problem as the one mentioned above. Continued stress may also lead to stress eating, and a host of other problems.

Solution: Learn to channel bad stress into good stress to combat this issue. Adding physical activity each day can help your body get rid of that stress and you’ll feel refreshed and you will be less likely to succumb to stress eating. Try to limit your stress as much as possible by managing your time more effectively, finding a different job or by finding ways to decompress at the end of every day.

These are just two common problems that can lead to weight gain. See how many trigger areas you have in your life that may be the culprit behind that spare tire you’re carrying around. Once you’ve identified them, you can work to resolve the issue and get healthier. It won’t happen over night, but by reducing your stress levels and sleeping more, you will notice a difference not only in your weight, but in your overall health.

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Weight Loss Journal, sleep, stress, weight loss

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