Gaining Weight – It Doesn’t Take Long

I always think this is one of the trickiest times of the year, the time when the balance can go either way, into excess or not – the weekend before the Christmas holiday can mean the beginning of a festive gain or not. Therefore the newsletter message I got below seemed especially pertinent. I don’t want to be a spoil sport and you’ll do whatever you think best for yourself anyway but this made me at least aware of how easy it would be to gain several pounds before the New Year. I don’t want to be ‘a weight gainer’ and I know it doesn’t take long … read on for some advice and facts from a guy who has been there and seen it all before.

I always enjoy reading Dr Terry Simpson’s newsletters and messages – he’s not only a bariatric surgeon, expert on obesity but keen cook and foodie. This latest from him warns of the dangers this festive period of over-indulgence and going back to old ways – sensible advice and maybe a few things to make you stop and think ….

Did you ever wonder Carol why it doesn’t take long to gain weight? Maybe because “lost” weight is never lost.

You may remember my dog, Lucky, who on occasion has had a problem. Like most dogs his problem is not him, it is what we make available to him. If we give him more food he will eat it. If we portion the food properly, he will eat that. He is an opportunistic eater.

If I restrict his portions (we got a smaller scoop) he will eat less and lose weight. If we feed him every single leftover he will gain weight.

So why do people gain weight after a diet. Two simple reasons: the appetite thermostat increases to regain the lost fat stores, and people tend to go off diets in a “big” way. The typical response is people stair step up with weight and diets. It is very rare – VERY RARE – for people to stair step down with weights in any given diet. Here are the differences:

(a) Those who lose weight change what they eat. Those who regain weight return to the foods they ate before the diet.

(b) Those who lose weight cook, and cook differently. Those who regain weight continue to eat out for meals.

(c) Those who lose weight notice that their portions have decreased. Just like Lucky. Those who regain weight think their portions have decreased, but they are often the same.

So as the new year starts and people think about what they want to do to fundamentally change the answer is a fundamental change – and often starts in the kitchen. For some they need the help of weight loss surgery – but even with the most restrictive type of surgery people can regain weight if they choose poor habits.

This year – more cooking!