You are certain that you are not eating any more food than usual and that you haven’t been eating a tonne of junk food but you’re still putting on weight.
Is this possible?
Yes! You are definitely NOT going crazy!
And here’s why.
As we you would’ve read in previous blogs the whole “calories in, calories out” argument is an overly simplistic view of weight.
There is definitely more to the story than just what you’re eating.
Most of this is to do with your metabolic rate which is affected by things like your activity level, history of dieting, body composition, and even what you eat.
But, let’s look past the “eat less and exercise more” advice and get into some of the less obvious underlying reasons to why you may be gaining weight even though you’re eating the same.
Things like:
Aging;
Hormones;
Sleep;
Stress.
Aging
Weird things start happening as we grow older. People commonly experience lower energy levels, more digestive discomfort, weight gain, as well as the usual aches and pains.
Getting older can usually result in hormonal changes for both men and women. And these hormonal changes can contribute to loss of some lean muscle mass, as well as increases and changes in how our bodies store fat in our bodies.
The good thing with this is that it is very common and not at all your fault!
Hormones
Your thyroid is like the control centre of your metabolism and it can be a massive contributor to your weight gain. There are several things that can affect you thyroid and throw it off track.
When your thyroid gets off track and produces fewer hormones which in turn slows down your metabolism. It is when your metabolism slows down you can gain weight, even when there have been no changes in your eating habits.
Tip: Have a chat with your doctor and have your hormones tested. A give the thyroid-friendly recipe and the end of this post a go.
Sleep
It’s fairly common knowledge that the amount of sleep you get a night has a huge influence on your metabolic rate.
And as we age it can become harder and harder to get a good night’s rest.
The general consensus is we should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night to help avoid weight gain.
It’s true! Not getting enough sleep is linked with weight gain.
Who knew? You can sleep off your weight?!
Tip: You should try to get no less than 7 hours of sleep every night. The first step in making this happen is to create a calming and relaxing routine for your bedtime.
Stress
Stress just seems to be everywhere and tends to increase as we get older with more things for us to worry about. There are just so many things that can cause stress responses in your body.
And you just know that stress hormones are not going to help you keep up with your healthy habits or maintain a healthy weight, right?
While I know you can’t always change your stressors you can try to change your stress response to them.
Tip: Try meditation or yoga. Or give mindful eating a go. How about adult colouring books that are all the rage now?
Conclusion:
There are a lot of factors that can affect your weight, even if the way you eat has not changed. Aging, hormones, stress, and sleep are all connected to each other and can all contribute to weight gain, even if you’re eating the same way you always have.
Recipe: Thyroid Friendly Seaweed Sushi Bowl
Serves 2
1 cup cooked rice
1 avocado (thinly sliced)
½ cucumber (diced)
½ red pepper (thinly sliced)
1 green onion (chopped)
2 tablespoons dried seaweed (arame, wakame, or crumbled nori sheets)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons gluten-free tamari sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
½ garlic clove
dash salt and pepper
Split the first seven ingredients into two bowls.
Mix the rest of the ingredients together to make the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the sushi bowls.
Serve & Enjoy!
Tip: This is a great lunch to take with you while you are out an about. Keep dressing in a separate container so it doesn’t go soggy and give it a shake before adding it onto the sushi bowl.
References:
https://authoritynutrition.com/lose-weight-in-menopause/