Two Sneaky Causes Behind Weight Gain

If you have ever had trouble keeping your weight gain in check, then you probably already realize that weight gain can creep up slowly over time. In a large part, this is due to the fact that most of us are living very busy lives where many of our habits become entrenched. In the process, we fail to notice that some of our habits, usually derived out of the need to adapt to our busy schedules, are actually resulting in weight gain and even lots of it over time! There are many ways in which this can occur, but two of the sneakier examples of weight gain come in the form of skipping breakfast and skipping sleep.

As it turns out, these two health decisions can have a profound impact on your health and lead not only to weight gain, but also the accompanying negative health consequences like heart disease and diabetes. In this article, we will look at why you shouldn't skip breakfast and why you should get enough sleep. If you want to feel better and have more energy, then breakfast and sleep are nothing short of a must.

Never Skip Breakfast

When you skip breakfast, you are actually begging to gain weight. Let's look at a few of the reasons that you should always make certain that you eat at least a small breakfast no matter how rushed you may be.

First of all, if you skip breakfast, you are far more likely to binge eat later in the day and make poorer health decisions come lunch time. You may, for example, give into cravings and "ditch" your diet for a day in order to restore your glucose levels and fight off fatigue. Another reason you don't want to skip breakfast is that you will be far more likely to reach out and grab some easy to eat junk food to help you make it to lunchtime.

So what should you do if your mornings are extremely hectic and you have trouble squeezing in breakfast? Planning ahead is key, for if you have quick and easy food handy or have prepared a simple breakfast the night before, you will be far less likely to skip this very important meal.

Get Enough Sleep and Your Body Will Thank You!

Sleep is simply not something that should be treated as "optional." When you fail to get enough sleep, your body responds in some unpleasant ways. First of all, a lack of sleep triggers stress hormones, such as cortisol, and that can lead to inflammation throughout your body and issues like aches and pains. There is no doubt that a lack of sleep doesn't feel good! Oftentimes, lack of sleep will lead to overeating in an attempt to get an energy boost to make it through the day. A lack of sleep also impacts mood and serotonin levels in the brain, which could lead to binge eating. It goes without saying that it is remarkably difficult to stick to any diet and food strategy when you feel grumpy and exhausted!

Breakfast and proper sleep are just not optional elements in your diet. Sadly, all too many people treat both of these important health factors as optional. The end result is often a decline in overall health.