Here are 4 things that you may have not given much thought to, but may be affecting your fat loss results.
Chill Time In Front Of The TV
There is absolutely nothing wrong with relaxing in front of the TV at night time. You need some time after work to wind down so your brain isn’t buzzing before you go to sleep.
However, one common thing that people tend to do while watching TV is snack. Sitting there eating mindlessly means you don’t realise how much food you’ve actually eaten. And usually you’re eating food when you’re not even hungry.
Make it a rule that you need to eat every meal at the table, not in front of the TV. Try not to snack while you’re on the couch and see if it makes a difference.
That Time Of Month
This can be tough, especially for cravings, feeling bloated and generally just wanting to eat junk food and be lazy. Your body will feel so much better if you eat healthier at this time, and do some exercise, even if it’s something lighter such as a walk.
Don’t use this as an excuse to eat chocolate because that’s what you’re craving, and skip out on your workouts because you are feeling sluggish. Make it a point to still do some exercise every day (even if it’s just yoga or a walk). If you’re desperately craving something, then don’t deprive yourself. Eat it. Just keep it under control – there’s no need to eat that junk food every day of the week.
Stress
Stress can be caused by anything – working too much, feeling unhappy or angry, arguing with your partner, overtraining, etc. When you are stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol. Cortisol occurs naturally in your body, and is temporarily elevated when you are frightened, attacked or there is a threat to your survival. When you are constantly stressed, your body has constantly high levels of cortisol.
High levels of cortisol encourages your body to store fat, especially around your stomach and your vital organs (which contributes to heart disease and diabetes). Cortisol has also been associated with increased appetite, cravings for foods high in sugar and fat and increased blood pressure. So you can see why it is important to ensure you are not constantly stressed out!
Lack Of Sleep
Stress and sleep actually go hand in hand. Your body has naturally higher levels of cortisol in the morning. As the day goes on, cortisol levels decline, which prepares your body for a good night’s sleep. If you are in a constantly stressed out state, your cortisol levels will not go down as the day goes on, like they’re supposed to. As a result, you will have difficulty falling asleep, and your quality of sleep will be poor.
You should be aiming for at least 7-8 hours sleep per night. When you do not get this required amount of sleep, the hormones that control appetite and the feeling of fullness are also affected. This means that you will feel hungrier and are more likely to overeat.
Your Job
Yes your job can be a fat trap, I know my last job was. Just about every single day there was a morning tea on and lots of delicious food like cakes, slices, cheese, etc were available just when I wanted it.
This is where willpower and preparation come in! You need to have the willpower to say no to these. If you’ve packed yourself a lunch with morning and afternoon snacks, then you will be prepared when this happens. Join in the morning tea but bring something healthy such as fresh fruit or carrot sticks and hummus.
Another reason your job can be a fat trap is because of the potential stress. And as I mentioned above, stress is one of the worst factors for fat storage.
It’s FREE