Seven Surprising Weight-Loss Hurdles

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From Your Health Journal…..”A great article today from the Stratford Press about Seven surprising weight-loss hurdles. I strongly recommend your visiting their site (link provided below) to read the complete article. The article starts off discussing how we all know we put on weight during the day from snacking or eating too much at meals, but it may not be as obvious to us how we are actually gaining weight. This excellent articles gives 7 other ways we put on weight, including having friends who may become overweight, eating the wrong diet foods, staying up late at night, and your job – just to name a few. Obesity is on the rise all over the world, so articles like this are a valuable reference for many of us to educate ourselves. Please visit the Stratford Press web site to read the entire article.”

From the article…..

From that 3pm trip to the snack machine to those evenings curled up on the sofa with your favourite treat, we all know the major culprits when it comes to gaining weight. However, the reasons why you’re struggling to keep off the kilos may not be as obvious as you think. To rid yourself of sneaky diet spoilers, check out these surprising things that make you fat.

YOUR FRIENDS

While having close friends generates plenty of health benefits, research has also indicated that being overweight can be contagious among friends.

Research results published in the journal PLOS ONE indicated students were more likely to gain weight if they had friends who were heavier than them, while a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found having an obese friend increased your own chance of obesity by 50 per cent.

The good news is being slim can also be contagious, so try to influence your social group and keep your weight down by arranging healthy, fun group activities such as walks, bike rides or dance classes.

DIET FOODS

You’ve cleared your cupboards of junk food, stocked up on smoothies and cereal bars, and now you’re feeling pretty saintly.

However, those seemingly innocent diet foods nestling in your cupboards could actually be causing you to gain weight. Many foods claiming to be diet-friendly are actually hidden kilojoule traps packed with sugar and syrup. “Healthy” cereal bars can contain as much fat, sugar and kilojoules as an average chocolate bar.

Research by the Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio also found those who consumed diet drinks daily experienced a 70 per cent greater increase in waist circumference than those who drank none.

LATE NIGHTS

Most of us lead busy lives – and this sometimes means sleep becomes a last priority. But a study by researchers at the University of Washington found that getting less than seven hours of sleep a night was linked to a higher body weight.

They also found that the longer a person sleeps, the less impact the obesity gene has on their weight. For a quick and easy way to keep off the pounds, try to skip your favourite TV show or night out once in a while and catch up on sleep instead.

To read the complete article…..Click here