2010 Weight Lose Series No. 3

So lets identify your demon. What or who is the cause of your weight gain.

I always ask people about their job. What do they do during the day and week. Is their job active or do they spend the time at a desk. How do they spend lunch, work, exercise, skip it because the "job" requires your lunch time. Does the culture of the job encourage or reward fitness in the work place. If the company has vending machines what's in them? Does the job offer gym memberships, nutritional counseling or fitness at the site? So its not just the activity on the job that may effect your weight gain. The obvious factor (labor on a construction site or desk worker) is not always the only factor.

Screen time used to be the amount of time you spend watching television. Today its, computers, smart phones, iPhones, Playstation or XBox, not to mention the TV, DVD and movies we watch. The amount of time people spend in front of a screen is going up. We now tell people to chart the time they spend doing any screen activity. Some are just amazed. If you do you may want to make the time more productive. Set schedules for email, voice mail, etc (no more than 2 times a day). Tell people when you will answer email (if you do). If you do this at work you'll be more productive. Do the same with voice mail. Limit how much time you spend watching TV, playing Xbox, (you pick) or get rid of it. My wife and I never used the digital converter boxes for our TV and haven't missed it at all.

Eat the wrong food. When I say eat the wrong food it's usually processed or fast food. One thing I have learned is that fast food often tastes great. But that doesn't make it healthy or provide nutrients you need. People often wonder why after the consume a lot of food they are still hungry. First the brain will tell you that you are not hungry about 20 minutes after a meal. So wait 20 minutes. Many still feel this way after an hour or two and don't know why. Often it's because you eat but the food you eat is so broken down and processed that it no longer offers the nutrients you need daily. Our bodies need quality protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water and if it's not getting them it will ask for them (more Kcals).

Emotional eater. We all know one. Bad day, comfort food, break-up means ice cream or beers. Pick your emotional food. I can't fix this stuff and would refer you to a professional who can. Bottom line is the food is not the problem food is how people deal with a problem in the short turn. The only thing I know is that I don't know, but food isn't the answer.

Lack of sleep. Hard to deal with especially a young family. Parents will lose sleep with a new born and there are nights when the boogie man will be real to your 3-year old. We lose sleep unfortunately many studies link loss of sleep and weight gain. Sleep loss decreases deep sleep and that decreases our Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH is a protein that helps our body regulate proportions of fat and muscle. Loss of sleep may reduce your body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates as well.

Friends vs. foes. Sometimes it who we hang out with that will cause weight gain. Look at your friends if they always want to eat (socially) find some who ride bikes, run, hike with their spare time.