4 reasons why you are overweight – and what to do about it

Each person who has struggled to lose weight has their own story to tell. But they all have one thing in common. They don’t want to be fat any more. If that’s you take a moment to think about why you have struggled with your weight so far. The reasons why are often so obvious that most of us miss them completely. Have you been ignoring the signs or did you just drive past them entirely?

In this article I’m going to suggest simple four reasons why you may be overweight.

You’re not eating the right kind of breakfast

Research shows that people who regularly eat a nutritious breakfast tend to find it easier to maintain a healthy weight. If you eat breakfast and find yourself feeling hungry again two hours later there is a good chance that you are not eating the right kind of foods in the morning. Think about what you eat for breakfast on a typical day. Be honest. Is it high in fat, salt or sugar? Is it low in fibre? Is it nutritious or are you stuffing yourself with empty calories? Or worse still, do you skip breakfast altogether?

If you want to ensure you have the fuel you need to get through your busy day you should aim to include more complex carbohydrates in your breakfast. Foods that are high in fibre tend to fall into this category. Porridge oats are an excellent choice, and wholegrain and bran based cereals are harder to digest so it will take your body longer to break down these foods. The digestion process takes time and you will continue to feel full while your body is busy.  Most of us eat too little fibre and too much sugary food, particularly at breakfast and this is why we feel hungry sooner than we expect.

For more nutritious breakfast ideas that will help make you feel full of energy and keep the hunger pangs at bay check out the video below.

 

You’re not keeping yourself busy

Most snacking occurs due to boredom. We have all done it. Sometimes we are aware, sometimes we don’t even notice that we’ve munched our way through a big bag of potato chips. It’s not a good habit to get into and it’s hard to get out of. The best thing to do is to try to occupy yourself when you find yourself with time on your hands.  Play a card game, take a walk, read a magazine or start that new book you got for Christmas. I always keep a small book of crosswords or Sudoku with me to keep myself occupied. If you have a significant amount of time on your hands, try volunteering at a local charity, investing your time in a new hobby or joining an exercise class instead of pigging out in front of the TV.

You’re eating too quickly

It takes 10 – 15 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full. Some of us eat our meal far too quickly, thus eating more than we actually need. Our brain has not had sufficient time to register the food we have consumed. Slow down. Listen to some relaxing music while you eat, or take the time to talk about your day with your family and friends between mouthfuls. By slowing down you will improve digestion and by the time you finish your meal, you will feel full and satisfied. Due to busier lifestyles, many of us are starving hungry by the time we have our lunch or evening meal.  Keep a healthy snack with you so that you can keep hunger at bay until mealtimes.

You’re an emotional eater

Many people eat because they are sad or depressed. Food does have a comforting effect but it won’t solve anything and will most likely add to your problems if the reason for your sadness is because you are unhappy with your weight and the way you look. If you think you are eating because you are depressed, talk to someone, a friend, family member or your doctor about your problems. Being overweight can get you down in the dumps but only you have the power to change your downs to ups. Keep your mind and body active. Start exercising. Do a crossword. Achieve something each day. Five minutes on the treadmill yesterday, six minutes today. Fantastic. The only way is up!