You are feeling pretty proud of yourself as you take out the weighing scale – you’ve been eating healthy and exercising with the discipline of a soldier. Just when you are about to give yourself a pat on the back as you step on the scale… whack! Despite all your careful ministrations, you’ve gained weight. How did this happen?
Sometimes, assuming what we think is healthy, we unknowingly wind up sabotaging our best efforts at losing weight. Here are the reasons…
You May Be Overcompensating
Along with embarking on a healthy, nutritious diet, you’ve started exercising regularly – something you’ve never done before. But you’ve also subconsciously started ‘compensating’ yourself for all the hard work. That extra helping of pudding or some fries isn’t making you feel guilty. In fact, you’re thinking it won’t show with your health routine in place. But the reality of it is that you may not always know how much you are ingesting, and how much you need to burn; hence the shock at the weighing scale.
You May Be Eating Incorrectly
Not everything marked ‘low-fat’ is low calorie. Sometimes, sugar is added to enhance the flavour of foods. These ‘not-so-good’ carbs go through your system quickly, causing a spike in blood sugar followed by hunger pangs. Also, even while adding vegetables and other nutrients in their regular diet, most people forget to check the amount of oil used to cook a dish.
Cooking Shows tempt you
According to a new study in Appetite journal, women who regularly watch cooking shows weigh an average of 4 to 4.5 kg more than women who flip through food magazines! This could be because using recipes off the TV might seem more calorific but it isn’t so. Why? There’s high of reciprocating a dish that experts cook on TV. Also, food shows tend to boost appetite even if you’re not hungry.
Counting Liquid Calories?
Alcohol is calorifically dense. And cocktails (with their sugary mixers and added syrups) could sometimes go up to 500 calories per glass! Too much alcohol doesn’t enable your body to expel sodium, and this makes it retain more water. If you’re feeling bloated of late, this could be the reason. People also tend to munch fatty food when they drink.
You May Be Dehydrated
Adequate hydration (about 2-3 litres of water per day) helps your body function better, which keeps your weight in check.
Eating Without Thinking
A game or your favourite film on TV – and suddenly all portion control goes out of the window. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that eating while watching TV could lead to 10 per cent more calories consumed in one session or 25 per cent over the course of the day. And we eat even more when it’s nail biting- or high-action entertainment.
Having said that, give yourself a pat on the back for realizing you need to reclaim your health. Taking the first step is the biggest step of them all.
