If you’ve ever gained weight unexpectedly, you know how easy it is to cast blame on that double-cheeseburger you availed yourself of the night before you stepped on the scale. But the truth is, weight gain—like weight loss—occurs over time. “It’s usually ‘small behaviors plus time,’ rather than the big ones, that lead to weight gain,” Jonathan Ross, the American Council on Exercise’s senior adviser on personal training, explained to Men’s Journal. “We might think about knocking out a half of a pizza one night out, but the bigger issue might be the soda we have in the afternoons as a pick me up. It’s a small, single choice, but if it’s repeated frequently enough, it can cause a big impact.”
Believe it or not, some of those bad decisions are so small you don’t even know you’re making them—from eating one of the world’s healthiest foods simply too much to putting the wrong thing in your cup of Joe every morning. For a look at some of the smallest and sneakiest little decisions you’re unwittingly making that may be packing on a few extra pounds, read on, because we’ve compiled them right here.
1. You’re an Avocado Addict:
While avocados are a very healthy food, they are also very high in calories because of the generous amount of healthy fat they contain. According to the USDA, 1 cup of crushed avocado is 384 calories and 34 grams of fat.
2. You’re Grazing Too Much
One of the sneakiest ways you can gain weight is by grazing too much. The average American grazes all day, eating roughly 17 times per day, including snacks. While constant grazing will stimulate your metabolism, there is more downside than upside as it steadily dumps insulin into your blood, which cues your body to store fat.
3. You’re Not Drinking Your Coffee Black
Sixty-seven percent of Americans put something in their morning coffee, and those add-ins can be an extra 69 calories per day—much of that coming from added sugar. Flavored hot beverages can be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to calories that sneak up on you.
4. You’re Waiting Too Long Between Meals
According to Shena Jaramillo, MS, RD, one of the sneakiest ways you’re gaining weight is by simply waiting too long to eat in-between meals. “This can cause us to crave really high-fat, high calorie food choices, and to eat more of them at meal times,” she says. “Overall this leads to excess calorie intake and weight gain.”
5. You’re Eating Sugar-Free Snacks
“Those sugar-free biscuits and ‘only natural ingredients’ health bars, for example, are secretive tricksters,” says David McHugh, founder and CEO of the health site My Mixify. “Although sugar-free products lack the processed sugar, they don’t fill you up, causing you to eat more than you need. On top of that, natural product health bars still contain a lot of sugar from dried fruits and dates, which still means you’re taking in too much sugar.”
6. You’re Eating Anything Straight from the Bag
Fact: Monitoring the serving size of any food—healthy or unhealthy—is a responsible weight-loss tactic we wholeheartedly endorse. Another fact: You can’t monitor the serving size of anything if you’re whoofing it straight from the bag it comes in.
7. You’re Snacking While Prepping Meals
“People often nibble and snack on foods while they’re preparing meals, without taking into account that these nibbles have calories, too,” says Krikhely. “For those with a tendency to snack while cooking, keeping ready-to-eat vegetables available to snack on can be helpful. A few ideas could be baby carrots, grape tomatoes, or sliced bell peppers. These items have crunch and lots of flavor, and will satisfy that urge to nibble without sneaking in tons of unwanted calories.”
8. You’re Not Storing Food in Glass Containers
It’s not just the food you put into your body that affects your weight and your metabolism. How you’re storing your food plays a role, as well, says Sarah Rahal, MD.
“Unfortunately, different chemicals, such as parabens and bisphenols (which are found in plastic wrap and containers) mimic estrogen in the body, and can lead to hormone disruption and weight gain,” Rahal says. “This is also true for other chemicals you may have in the home, like phthalates which are found in artificial fragrances. These exposures are a hidden culprit in weight gain, and important to avoid! Steer clear of plastics by storing food in glass containers, using glass or stainless steel water bottles, and never reheating food in plastic. Also, avoid artificial fragrances by opting for essential oils.”
9. You’re Working Out Too Much
One of the most fascinating things seen in runners is that they’re doing too much. Often stress hormone cortisol is high from a busy day at work, plus family and then we add in super intense workouts, which means it never gets a chance to drop. That high level of cortisol has been shown to increase the body’s retention of belly fat.
Slow down on your runs and truly go easy often. You’ll feel better and be suddenly shedding the weight that you accumulated while overdoing it.
10. You’re Having a Few Cocktails
Fact: Alcohol is a major weight-loss no-no. “Those two or three cocktails can add 600, 700, 800 calories or more to the caloric totals of the day,” says Haris Bacic, co-founder of the menu tracker Pricelisto. “Those will wind up being reflected on the scale.”
11. You Eat Too Many Protein Bars
Yes, it’s true that most protein bars are packed with a healthy dose of protein which can help build muscle mass and strengthen your entire body following a workout. However, most protein bars actually contain a lot of calories. Some can range from 200-250 calories per bar! That amount of calories just isn’t right for a small snack. Protein bars can still be a part of your exercise routine and dieting strategy, but just remember everything in moderation. You don’t really need to have a protein bar every day or after every workout.”
12. You Dine With Platters on the Table, Thanksgiving-Style
One of the easiest ways to avoid over-eating is to make it slightly more difficult to actually reach your food. Conversely, one of the sneakiest ways to overeat is to simply have the entire smorgasbord in front of you all along.
Putting platters on the table is one way you’re guaranteeing that you’re going to eat more than you want to. This will only encourage and facilitate a second and third helping. Instead, always plate your food in the kitchen, restaurant-style.
Article by Keenan Mayo for EatThis,NotThat©
Photo credit: medicalxpress.com
