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Struggling to hit your goal weight? Weight loss is not all about calories, says nutritionist Teresa Boyce. Your inability to lose weight may be the result of so
You have heard it a thousand times: weight loss is simple, just eat less and exercise more, right? Well, maybe not.
Your expanding waistline and muffin top may be the result of something other than simply eating too many cupcakes. Research now suggests that weight gain and obesity are not only caused by a genetic predisposition or dietary and lifestyle behaviors, but are also affected by modern environmental factors.
A lack of sleep may be hindering your weight-loss goals. Sleep deprivation slows your metabolism and affects the hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin.
Leptin tells your brain to stop eating, whereas ghrelin, produced in the stomach, stimulates hunger. Research suggests inadequate sleep is associated with low levels of leptin, high levels of ghrelin and weight gain.
Solution: Turn off your phone and laptop. Instead, focus on good sleep hygiene: get to bed early, make sure your room is dark and cool and avoid all drugs including cigarettes, alcohol and sleeping pills.
Hidden sugars are everywhere. The biggest culprits include muesli bars, breakfast cereals, sports drinks, sauces and spreads – even certain peanut butter brands contain sugar. So what's the big deal? Added sugars are now considered to be more damaging than dietary fat to your weight and overall health, contributing to conditions including dental decay, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Solution: Read labels and avoid products with high amounts of added sugar. It may be listed as corn syrup, raymond mill, sucrose, malt, glucose, molasses, fructose, maltose or fruit juice concentrate.
There is no question that portions need to be smaller in order to lose weight. However, we have become so obsessed with calorie control that we often overlook the most important aspect of food – the nutrients.
Solution: Think quality. Don't just focus on the calories. Instead, choose nutrient-dense foods and nourish your body with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in fruit, vegetables and whole foods.
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