You are absolutely positive that you’re NOT eating more food or “junkier” food but you’re STILL gaining weight. What gives?!
How is this even possible?!!
You are NOT going crazy! And here’s why…
We both know that the whole “calories in, calories out” argument is an overly simplistic view of weight. If you still aren’t convinced and would like more info on this, grab my detailed FREE PDF Calorie Counting Debunked HERE and see for yourself why this method just doesn’t cut the mustard.
There’s definitely more to the story than just what you’re eating, right?
A lot of this comes right down to your metabolic rate which is affected by things like your activity level, history of dieting, body composition, and even what you eat.
Let’s go beyond the standard “eat less and move more” advice and dive into some of the less obvious underlying reasons why you may be gaining weight even though you’re eating the same.
Things like:
- Aging;
- Hormones;
- Sleep;
- Stress
Okay, let’s dive in.
Aging
Funny things happen as we age. People commonly experience lower energy levels, increased digestive discomfort, weight gain, as well as various aches and pains.
Aging can also result in hormonal changes for both men and women and these can contribute to loss of some lean muscle mass, as well as increases and changes in fat storage on our bodies.
The good thing is that, this is very common and not even a little your fault.
Hormones
Your thyroid is the master controller of your metabolism and can be a massive contributor to your unexpected weight gain. Unfortunately, there are several things that can affect it and throw it off course.
When your thyroid gets off course and produces fewer hormones, then your metabolism slows down. And when your metabolism slows down you can gain weight (even though you’re eating the same way you always have)! So frustrating!
Pro Tip: Talk with your doctor about having your hormones tested. Oh, and try the thyroid-friendly recipe that I created for you at the end of this post.
Sleep
There is plenty of research that shows the influence that sleep has on your metabolic rate and as we age it can sometimes become even more challenging to get a good night’s sleep.
The general consensus is to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night to help avoid weight gain. It’s true! Lack of sleep is linked with weight gain. Want to learn more about this? Check out our earlier blog posts Bye Bye Sleeping Through the Night or Sleep better for your health.
Who ever thought you can sleep off your weight? Win-win!
Pro Tip: Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. The first place to start is by implementing a calming before bedtime routine. Not sure how to improve your sleep routine? Check out the blog posts linked above for some great tips!
Stress
Oh man, stress seems to be everywhere! There are so many things that can cause stress responses in your body and you know that stress hormones are not going to help you sustain healthy habits or maintain a healthy weight, right?
While you can’t necessarily change your stressors themselves, you can try to adjust your stress response to them.
Sometimes stress leads to allowing our cravings to get the best of us. And this contributes to us getting sidetracked from our goals (at least momentarily). If you’d like help to beat the sugar cravings, and boost your energy I have just the thing for you! Check out my 5 day sugar free challenge (it’s free!) for tired moms.
Pro Tip: Try meditation, yoga or even just mindful eating. Or perhaps even one of those new adult colouring books that are all the rage? I really enjoy the app “Insight Timer” for some great, free meditations of all sorts!
Conclusion:
There are a lot of factors that can affect your weight, even if you’re eating the same way you always have. Aging, hormones, stress, and sleep are all interconnected to each other and can all contribute to weight gain, even if you’re eating the same way you always have. But you don’t have to sit idly by and let it happen… making some small changes can make the biggest of differences! If you need more guidance, I’m always just an email message away….
Recipe (Thyroid friendly iodine): 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
Instructions
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 on the go. Keep dressing in a separate container so you can give it a shake before adding it onto the sushi bowl.
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