We all know that when you take in more calories than you burn, your body puts on weight. Following simple logic, we presume that the opposite theory is true. This is the basic rule of weight loss: when you eat a smaller amount of calories than you burn, you drop excess weight.
But is dieting really this simple? And how many of us actually keep track of the calories we eat and how many calories we burn?
Prescription drugs. Some prescription drugs are known to contribute to weight gain. They include antidepressants (particularly Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft), steroid anti-inflammatories (prednisone), drugs given for bipolar disorder, and medications prescribed for hyperthyroidism.
Underdeveloped muscles. Muscles are our body’s most potent power for using calories. Any activity, whether walking around your block or running up a hill, will burn more calories if there are more muscles doing the activity. Bigger muscle mass also raises our calorie burn when our body is at rest. Simply said, the larger the muscles you have, higher the rate of metabolism.
Dehydration. When the body doesn’t have enough water to function, it retains the water it does have. This stimulates fluid retention in the cells, which adds inches to our body.
Artificial sweeteners. Beware of the alternative sweeteners that brag zero calories. There are 2 reasons why they may promote weight gain to the uninformed dieter. A 2008 research study by Duke University found that Splenda leads to weight gain and destroys beneficial bacteria in the intestinal track. Other research suggests that substitute sweeteners raise insulin levels, which causes the body to store fat. Learn the truth about Splenda.
Bad food combinations. Nutrition research that shows that the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat in our body affects our insulin production, which in turn, impacts how much fat our body burns or stores. This is true for every meal, including small snacks. If you have a modest snack of a rice cake with sliced banana, you are only eating carbs — no protein and no fat. Despite the fact that your calorie intake is only 150 calories, your insulin levels will spike as if you had just eaten several donuts. The key to keeping insulin levels regulated is to always include a little protein and fat with every carb you eat. Here’s an excellent guide to food combining.
