Gaining Weight – It Doesn’t Take Long

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!