5 sneaky things that make you gain weight

This can make you gain weight: Eating richer, fattier meals once the cold weather hits.
Why it makes you gain weight: Contrary to popular belief, the arrival of fall and winter doesn’t automatically plant an extra five or 10 pounds on your bottom, but eating calorie-dense meals and lazing around can. To avoid packing on winter pudge, act as you would in warmer months. Sign up for a fitness class, eat lighter meals, and head outside more often. The bonus: Walking in bulky winter gear can add resistance (think of those heavy, clunky boots!) and help you burn extra calories.

This can make you gain weight: Skipping meals to lose a pound or two.
Why it makes you gain weight: Think of your metabolism as a furnace – when you’re not fueling it, there’s nothing to keep the fire burning. And every time you skip a meal, it lowers the flame a little further, meaning that when you do finally eat, calories aren’t likely to burn off as efficiently as they would with a constant supply of energy. To remedy the problem, says Edwards, aim to eat every three to four hours. Not only will this stoke your metabolism’s fire, but fueling up this often will help prevent cravings for sugary, fatty foods, too.

This can make you gain weight: Buying food in bulk.
Why it can make you gain weight: Unless you have a family of ravenous wolves camped out at home, chances are, buying in bulk will only add to your size. After all, the more food you see, the more likely you are to eat. To address the problem, try these options. Either stick to regular-size packages, or pick up the bulk version but divide and conquer as soon as possible. By using Ziploc bags or plastic containers to portion-control how much you eat at each sitting, you’ll keep your diet in check and cut down on packaging waste at the same time.

Green Living Blog
Find our how our editors are making their lives greener, plus submit your own stories – you could win a dishwasher or one of 30 other prizes!

Read more:
• Practical weight-loss strategies
• 5 ways to boost your metabolism naturally
• Healthy weight-loss guide: Diet, nutrition and exercise tips
• 20 quick-to-make meals under 300 calories

Page 2 of 2