There Are a Handful of Reason You Gain Weight
Research has shown again and again that weight gain as we age is influenced by many factors and most of them, we have no idea about.
Let’s delve into these reasons to understand the challenges we face.
What Happened to Your Metabolism?
The Impact of Dieting and Cutting Calories on Weight Gain
One of the reasons you gain weight as you age is that not only does your metabolism slow down with age, but it has also been severely impacted by years of dieting and cutting calories.
When we consistently cut calories, our bodies adapt by slowing down our metabolism to conserve energy. This adaptive mechanism makes it increasingly difficult to lose weight over time and easier to gain it back.
Why Cutting Calories Slowed Your Metabolism
Think of it this way. If your body normally burns 2500 calories (this is your metabolism at work), and suddenly you’re only eating 1200 calories (the magic number we were told to eat) if your body continued to burn 2500 calories, you would burn through your sugar, fat, and muscle and then you would die.
Your body doesn’t want you to die, so it slows down your metabolism to meet what you are giving it. When you go back to your regular way of eating, before you cut calories, your body now only needs 1200 calories and will store the balance as fat. This is another reason you have gained weight
Hormonal Changes Cause Weight Gain
Hormonal changes, especially in women, play a huge role in weight gain.
This hormonal shift can alter how your body stores and distributes fat, making weight management much more challenging.
Perimenopausal Symptoms That Cause Weight Gain
There are several menopause symptoms that contribute to weight gain.
You may have some of them, you may have none of them, you may have all of them, it really depends on the person, everyone’s journey is different.
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Mood swings
Irritability
Anxiety
Depression
How the Loss of Muscle Mass Affects Weight Gain
The Role of Sarcopenia
With age, we naturally lose muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia.
Muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue. As muscle mass decreases, your metabolism drops, leading to fewer calories burned and an increased likelihood of weight gain.
Fat Storage Because of Less Muscle
Another reason sarcopenia is an issue as we age is because we have less sugar storage. This means that we have more fat storage.
Your Body Doesn’t Release Fat
The Role of Insulin in Fat Storage and Release
As we age, our bodies can become more efficient at storing fat and less efficient at burning it due to the change in our hormonal status.
Insulin, our fat storage hormone, can become more effective at storing fat and less effective at releasing it as we get older.
Refined Carbs Store Fat Cause You to Gain Weight
How Refined Carbs Contribute to Insulin Resistance and Fat Storage
Consuming refined carbs leads to spikes in blood sugar levels, causing a surge in insulin production.
Insulin is crucial for regulating blood sugar, but it also promotes fat storage. When we eat refined carbs, our bodies respond by storing more fat, contributing to weight gain and making it harder to lose weight.
Recognizing these factors can help you approach weight management with more realistic expectations and targeted strategies.
By addressing hormonal imbalances, maintaining muscle mass, and making mindful food choices, you can navigate the craziness of weight management more effectively and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
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