6 brain tricks that make us get fat

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The formula "eat less, move more" may not work if you do not take into account the fine tuning of the body.

1. Low self-esteem

Excessive severity towards oneself darkens life and affects the size of the waist. The weight loss industry makes money by making people feel bad and overly critical of their bodies. As a result, the person who falls for this trick spends money on pills, weight loss products, and buys meal plans that don't work.

People with low self-esteem do not blame charlatans for failures, but themselves. They get even more upset, give up and stop restricting themselves in food. And then they again buy “slimming” products. But this is fraught with the "yo-yo effect" when, after strict dietary restrictions, a person gains more than he shed.

How to fight

The easiest way to become less strict with yourself is to work with a psychologist. The specialist will "fix" the brain, and this will make life easier. There is also plan B: get in shape in working ways. For example, start counting calories. However, there is a nuance. An insecure person will never be satisfied with what has been achieved, and this is fraught with anorexia.

2. Emotional overeating

Food feels comfortable, especially if it is fatty or sweet. Therefore, many people tend to look for something to chew in any incomprehensible situation. Moreover, studies show that women are more likely to seize stress, and men try to replace boredom with food.

As a result, you overeat, and the extra calories required by the brain, not the body, are transformed into fat.

How to fight

If you tend to overeat emotionally, start keeping a food diary. And write in it not only what you ate, but also why. For example, say you made a sandwich for lunch because you were hungry. And for an afternoon snack, we ate a chocolate bar, because they wanted to get distracted from work. When you understand your true motives and identify patterns, it will be easier to monitor your diet.

3. Depression

Research points to a direct link between depression and weight gain. It has been established that this disorder is one of the factors by which one can predict obesity in a person in the future. The opposite is also noted: people with obesity have a higher risk of depression.

How to fight

Depression is not just a mood problem, but a serious illness, so you need to see a psychiatrist for it.

4. Too strict approach to weight loss

You started counting calories, went to the gym, and introduced army discipline to yourself. But just such a rigorous approach may not bring the desired results. If you eat too little or exercise too much, your brain will inhibit weight loss.

First, the body is not aware that you have created harsh conditions for it on purpose. Therefore, he switches to survival mode. Research shows that brain cells are able to prevent fat burning in the face of severe calorie deficits. According to scientists, this mechanism was developed in ancient times, when food was supplied to the body irregularly and it had to correctly distribute energy reserves between meals. In addition, stress leads to the production of cortisol, which interferes with shedding pounds.

Secondly, strict restrictions lead to an obsession with food, which forces you to overeat as soon as you stop monitoring your diet. And again the "yo-yo effect" is triggered.

How to fight

Don't chase quick results. Choose a balanced diet and workout that makes you stronger and happier, rather than a squeezed lemon.

5. The wrong approach to food

Those with fit bodies who make money through social media selling weight loss programs are often encouraged to stop treating food as a pleasure and treat it as fuel. The problem is, you are not a machine. And taste buds are not given to you by chance.

If you are told, for example, there are more chicken breasts, but you hate them, you can only guess how quickly this nutritional strategy will come to a standstill.

How to fight

It is much easier to stick to a healthy diet when you consider your eating habits. But you will have to build the menu yourself. If only because no one knows your preferences better than yourself.

6. Perceiving food as a reward

Food is nature's own reward. Eating food triggers the release of dopamine, which activates the pleasure centers in the brain. If you reward yourself with food for success and accomplishments, the pleasure becomes even stronger. As a result, a close connection is formed between food and pleasant sensations, which forces you to eat, even if there is no appetite.

For example, as a child, you only ate cake on holidays. And now cake is the easiest way to cheer up and make your day special.

How to fight

Be mindful of the question and ask yourself before each meal if you are hungry or are motivated by other factors. And come up with another reward system. For example, after a successfully completed project, go for a ride on the rides.