Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight

What's With the Weight Gain?

If you started taking in more calories than usual or cutting back on exercise, you wouldn't be surprised if the numbers on the scale crept higher. But what if you're doing everything the same as you always do, and your weight still goes up? It's time to delve a little deeper into what else might be going on.

Lack of Sleep
There are two issues at work with sleep and weight gain. First, if you're up late, the odds are greater that you're doing some late-night snacking, which means more calories. The other reason involves what's going on in your body when you're sleep-deprived. Changes in hormone levels increase hunger and appetite and also make you feel not as full after eating.

Stress

When life's demands get too intense, our bodies go into survival mode. Cortisol, the "stress hormone," is secreted, which causes an increase in appetite. And of course, we may reach for high-calorie comfort foods in times of stress as well. This combination is a perfect breeding ground for weight gain.

Antidepressants

An unfortunate side effect from some antidepressants is weight gain. Talk to your doctor about making changes to your treatment plan if you think your antidepressant is causing weight gain. But never stop or change your medication on your own. Realize that some people experience weight gain after beginning drug treatment simply because they're feeling better, which leads to a better appetite. Also, depression itself can cause changes in weight.

Steroids

Anti-inflammatory steroid medications like prednisone are notorious for causing weight gain. Fluid retention and increased appetite are the main reasons. Some people may also see a temporary change in where their body holds fat while taking steroids -- to places like the face, the belly, or the back of the neck. If you've taken steroids for more than a week, don't stop them abruptly. That can lead to serious problems. Check with your doctor first.

Drugs That May Cause Weight Gain

Several other prescription drugs are linked to weight gain. The list includes antipsychotic drugs (used to treat disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), along with medications to treat migraines, seizures, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Work with your doctor to find a medication that treats your symptoms and lessens side effects.

Don't Jump to Blame the Pill

Contrary to popular belief, combination birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) aren't proven to cause lasting weight gain. It is thought that some women taking the combination pill may experience some weight gain related to fluid retention, but this is usually short-term. If you're still concerned about possible weight gain, talk to your doctor.

Hypothyroidism

If your thyroid (the butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck) is not making enough thyroid hormone, you're probably feeling tired, weak, and cold, and gaining weight. Without enough thyroid hormone, your metabolism slows, making weight gain more likely. Even a thyroid functioning at the lower end of the normal range might cause weight gain. Treating hypothyroidism with medication may reverse some of the weight gain.

Don't Blame Menopause

Most women do gain some weight around the time of menopause, but hormones probably aren't the only cause. Aging slows your metabolism, so you burn fewer calories. And changes in lifestyle (such as exercising less) play a role. But where you gain weight may be related to menopause, with fat accumulating around your waist more than your hips and thighs.

Cushing's Syndrome

Weight gain is a common symptom of Cushing's syndrome, a condition in which you are exposed to too much of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn causes weight gain and other abnormalities. You can get Cushing's syndrome if you take steroids for asthma, arthritis, or lupus. It can also happen when your adrenal glands make too much cortisol, or it could be related to a tumor. The weight gain may be most prominent around the face, neck, upper back, or waist.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common hormonal problem in women of childbearing age. Most women with PCOS grow many small cysts on their ovaries. The condition leads to hormone imbalances that affect a woman's menstrual cycle and can lead to extra body hair and acne. Women with this condition are resistant to insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar), so it may cause weight gain. The weight tends to collect around the belly, putting these women at greater risk for heart disease.

Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. When you quit, you may gain some weight, but perhaps less than you think. On average, people who stop smoking gain less than 10 pounds. You should stop feeling hungrier after several weeks, which will make it easier to help lose any weight you gained.

Rules if You do Gaining Weight :

1. Don't stop taking any medications without first consulting your doctor. Recognize the importance of the drug you're taking. It may be critical to your health. Also, something else may be causing you to gain weight. Your doctor can help you figure out what's going on.
2. Don't compare yourself to other people taking the same drug. Not all people experience the same side effects on the same drug. Even if a drug caused someone else to lose weight, the same might not be true for you.
3. Remember that if the weight gain is just from water retention, it's not permanent weight or fat. Once you're done taking the drug or your condition is under control, the puffiness from fluid retention may ease. Stick to a lower-sodium diet in the meantime.
4. Remember that if the weight gain is just from water retention, it's not permanent weight or fat. Once you're done taking the drug or your condition is under control, the puffiness from fluid retention may ease. Stick to a lower-sodium diet in the meantime.
5. Learn if the weight gain is from a decrease in metabolism -- from either a medical condition or medication. And if so, take the time to participate in metabolism-raising activities. Get moving!

Five Minute Breakfast Sandwich

This healthy vegetarian breakfast-sandwich recipe comes together in 5 minutes, but has plenty of protein from a vegetarian sausage patty and fiber from the whole-wheat bread and apple to keep you satisfied all morning long.

Ingredients

2 slices cinnamon-raisin bread, preferably whole-wheat

1 frozen vegetarian sausage patty

1 teaspoon raspberry jam

4 thin slices apple

2 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions
Toast bread. Microwave sausage patty until hot, about 30 seconds, or according to package directions. Crumble. Spread jam on 1 piece of toast. Top with the sausage, apple slices, cheese and the remaining slice of toast. Cut in half and serve.

• Nutritional Fact

• Calories320
• Fat8 g
  • Saturated fat3 g
• Cholesterol16 mg
• Carbohydrates46 g
  • Dietary fiber6 g
• Protein19 g
• Sodium458 mg

Diabetic Food List: Best and Worst Choices

Diabetes and Breads, Grains, and Other Starches

Your body needs carbs. But you want to choose wisely. Use this list as a guide.

• Best Choices

Whole-grain flours, such as whole wheat flour

Whole grains, such as brown rice

Cereals containing whole-grain ingredients and little added sugar

Whole-grain bread

Baked sweet or white potato or baked steak fries

Whole-grain flour or corn tortillas

Corn, popcorn or products made from corn

• Worst Choices

White flour

Processed grains, such as white rice

Cereals with little whole grain and lots of sugar

White bread

French fries

Fried white-flour tortillas

Vegetables and Diabetes

Most vegetables contain fiber and are naturally low in fat and sodium (unless they are canned or frozen in sauces). Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes and corn, aren't included in this category. They are considered part of the breads, grains, and other starches group.

• Best Choices:

Fresh vegetables, eaten raw or lightly steamed, roasted, or grilled

Plain frozen vegetables, lightly steamed

Low sodium or unsalted canned vegetables

Lettuces, greens, kale, spinach, arugula

• Worst Choices:

Canned vegetables with lots of added sodium

Vegetables cooked with lots of added butter, cheese, or sauce

Pickles (if you need to limit sodium; otherwise, pickles are okay)

Sauerkraut, (same as pickles; limit only if you have high blood pressure)

Fruits and Diabetes

Fruits have carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are naturally low in fat (except for avocados) and sodium. Most fruits have more carbs than do vegetables.

• Best Choices:

Plain frozen fruit or fruit canned in fruit juice

Fresh fruit

Sugar-free or low-sugar jam or preserves

No-sugar-added applesauce

100% fruit juice

• Worst Choices:

Canned fruit with heavy sugar syrup

Chewy fruit rolls

Regular jam, jelly, and preserves (unless portion is kept small)

Sweetened applesauce

Fruit punch, fruit drinks, fruit juice drinks

Diabetes and Meat and Other Protein

This category includes beef, chicken, fish, pork, turkey, seafood, beans, cheese, eggs, nuts, and tofu.

• Best Choices:

Baked, broiled, grilled, or stewed meats

Lower-fat cuts of meat, such as top sirloin

Turkey bacon

Low-fat cheeses

Skinless breast of chicken or turkey

Baked, broiled, steamed, or grilled fish

Tofu lightly sautéed, steamed, or cooked in soup

Beans

Eggs

Nuts

• Worst Choices:

Fried meats

Higher-fat cuts of meat, such as ribs

Pork bacon

Regular cheeses

Poultry with skin

Fried fish

Fried tofu

Beans prepared with lard

Dairy and Diabetes

This group includes milk and foods made from milk, such as yogurt and sour cream. Milk has a lot of protein and minerals, including calcium.

• Best Choices:

1% or skim milk

Low-fat yogurt

Low-fat cottage cheese

Low-fat or nonfat sour cream

Frozen low-fat, low-carb yogurt

Nonfat half-and-half

• Worst Choices:

Whole milk

Regular yogurt

Regular cottage cheese

Regular sour cream

Regular ice cream

Regular half-and-half

Diabetes and Fats, Oils, and Sweets
Eating too much of these kinds of foods can lead to weight gain, making it harder to keep diabetes under control.

• Best Choices:

Baked potato chips, baked corn chips, puffed rice, or corn snacks, in small portions

Vegetable oils, non-hydrogenated butter spreads, margarine

Reduced-fat mayonnaise

Light salad dressings

Air-popped or calorie-controlled popcorn

• Worst Choices:

Snacks fried in fat, such as potato chips, corn chips, pork rinds

Lard, hydrogenated vegetable shortening, butter

Regular mayonnaise

Regular salad dressings

Butter-flavored stove-top popcorn

Beverages and Diabetes

Some drinks have lots of carbs but very little nutrition. Others may be a better choice most of the time.

• Best Choices:

Water, unflavoured or flavoured sparkling water

Light beer, small amounts of wine or non-fruity mixed drinks

Unsweetened tea (add a slice of lemon)

Coffee, black or with added low-fat milk and sugar substitute

Plain coffee and hot chocolate

Sport drinks, in limited quantities

• Worst Choices:

Regular sodas

Regular beer, fruity mixed drinks, dessert wines

Sweetened tea

Coffee with sugar and cream

Flavoured coffees and chocolate drinks

Energy drinks

Recipe: Apple Turkey Picadillo

Ingredients :

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

1 clove garlic, minced

8 ounces 99%-lean ground turkey

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 tablespoon coder vinegar

1 medium tart green apple, peeled and chopped

1 cup chopped tomato

3 tablespoons chopped green olives

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup sliced scallion greens

Instructions :

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add turkey; cook, stirring and breaking up, until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Stir in cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cloves; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in vinegar, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in apple, tomato, olives, and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat and gently simmer, stirring ofter, until any liquid in the pan has reduced to a syrupy glaze, about 8 minutes. Stir in scallion greens and serve.

Recipe: Fruity and Nutty Chicken Salad

• Ingredients:

3 cups diced boneless, roasted chicken breast

1/2 cup finely diced celery

1/3 cup chopped green onions (the white and part of the green)

1 firm apple, sliced and diced

1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries

1 cup halved seedless green or red grapes

1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

5 tablespoons light mayonnaise

1/2 fat-free sour cream

• Instructions:

1. Add chicken, celery, green onion, apple, dried cranberries or cherries, grapes, and pecans to large serving bowl and toss.
2. Add pepper, curry powder, mayonnaise, and sour cream to small bowl and whisk together until smooth. Spoon over chicken mixture and toss together to blend well.
3. You can serve this salad immediately, or you can cover the salad, chill in the refrigerator, and serve the next day.