There are many factors that contribute to weight gain, and it can be difficult to identify which ones have caused you to gain a few extra pounds. These are the morning habits that are making you gain weight.
7 morning habits that are making you gain weight
Why are morning rituals important? Well, how you start your morning often determines how you go through the rest of the day. If you get up „on the left foot,“ then the whole day you will feel horrible.
It’s pretty much the same with weight gain. No matter how hard you try to lose weight, there are some habits that cause you to gain weight and prepare your body to receive more calories.
Body fat accumulates in our bodies from many sources in our daily routines. It is not as simple as choosing to have a healthy breakfast every day. If you really want to lose weight, here are some habits you should try to eliminate so that you can really start making the progress you’ve been waiting for.
1. Don’t exercise early in the day
We all know that exercise is important when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight, but the timing of your exercise can also affect your ability to maintain extra weight.
A study found that people who exercise in the morning are less likely to consume additional calories during the day.
People can also burn up to 20% more body fat by exercising on an empty stomach in the morning. Try to get up early and train before breakfast to achieve the body you want.
2. Skipping breakfast can make you gain weight
You’ve probably heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and it’s true! Breakfast is a critical meal because it raises energy levels in the body and restores blood glucose levels to normal after an overnight fast.
Breakfast is also the most satisfying meal we consume and affects food intake throughout the day. Eating a large and healthy breakfast reduces your appetite and tends to reduce your daily caloric intake.
Take the extra time out of your day to prepare and eat a full, healthy breakfast if you want to stay slim.
3. Don’t drink water right when you wake up
Drinking adequate amounts of water is beneficial to your overall health and can help you maintain a healthy weight. Drinking a few glasses of water when you wake up in the morning „will allow the body to rehydrate and allow better digestion when you eat.“
Drinking water when you wake up can also avoid snacks, as your body often mistakes thirst for hunger. Keep a glass of water on your nightstand and make it a habit to drink it right after you wake up.
4. Don’t weigh yourself
Many of us have complicated relationships with the scale, but weighing ourselves in the morning can be a good thing! A study found that weighing yourself frequently and having visual feedback can help with weight loss and maintenance. Using a scale is a great way to stay in control and avoid unexpected weight gain.
Keep a scale in your bathroom and weigh yourself in the morning; it could motivate you to stay at your weight. But if you find that that only stresses you out, ditch the idea.
5. Start your day in the dark
Sometimes it can be quite difficult to get up in the morning and getting ready in the dark may seem like a good idea to your tired eyes, but it is not. Embrace the morning sun because it can help you stay fit!
Studies have shown that sunlight increases your mood and reduces the size of fat cells in your body. Open your blinds as soon as you get up to reap the benefits of the morning sun.
6. Read the news
Reading the news first thing in the morning has become a habit for many people. After all, how else are you supposed to catch up on everything that happened in your sleep?
Although this activity keeps your brain active and healthy, it is not necessarily good for your body. Staying up-to-date on the latest news can be stressful these days, and long-term stress causes stem cells to transform into fat cells and result in weight gain.
Try to resist the urge to read the news in the morning and replace this activity with something that lightens your mood and allows you to de-stress, like listening to music.
7. Save cravings for later
If there are certain foods that you like, don’t wait until later in the day to eat them. A study found that food is much less fattening when consumed in the morning compared to at night.
„Our body’s metabolism changes throughout the day. A slice of bread eaten at breakfast leads to a lower glucose response and is less fattening than an identical slice of bread eaten at night. “
So, let yourself live and indulge in your morning pancake and muffin cravings (in moderation, of course).
Starting the day right is important for both mental and physical well-being. If you solve the bad habits of the morning today, your waist will thank you and you will stay at your weight in the immediate future.
