In the morning, everyone has a ritual. Whether it’s hitting the snooze button five times, stretching for a few minutes before starting your day or taking a 30 minute shower, our morning habits almost become second nature. But have you ever thought that what starts your day off may also start a trend of weight gain? The following morning habits could be the cause of your unwanted weight gain.
You Get Changed In The Dark: According to a study published in the journal PLOS One, if you keep your blinds closed when you wake up in the morning, you’re missing out weight-loss benefits provided by the sun. The study suggests that people who get sun (when it’s sunny) immediately after they wake up have a lower BMI than those who do not. The study adds that between 20-30 minutes of daylight is more than enough to affect an individual’s BMI.
Skipping the Weigh-In: There is a love-hate relationship when it comes to stepping on the scale. Because of this 50/50 relationship, it makes it easy to ignore stepping on it when we get out of the shower in the morning. However, a one-year study that is published in the International Journal of Obesity states that the longer women waited to between weigh-ins, the more weight they put on. Researchers of the study believe that women who never skipped their weigh-in were more prone to having healthier eating habits.
Skipping Breakfast: It’s true what they say “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” According to nutrition and exercise scientist, Kathleen Alleaume, if you skip breakfast, it could become a gateway to unhealthy eating during the day. She states that a balanced breakfast will set the tone for the rest of the day, and it also helps with hunger concentration and improved eating habits. She adds that the perfect breakfast will have fiber and protein, which will help prevent caffeine cravings and “mid-morning munchies.”
You Don’t Make Your Bed: When you wake up in the morning, you tend to neglect the little things like making your bed. But you might want to rethink that if you care about your waistline. A National Sleep Foundation survey was conducted and found that those who make their bed were 19% more likely to report getting proper rest compared to those who did not make their bed. Because a good night’s sleep is associated with a lower BMI, why wouldn’t you want to pick up this positive habit? Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, wrote in his book that those who make their bed on a regular basis have better willpower, which can transition into keeping their calories in check.
Too Much Coffee, Not Enough Water: Kathleen explains that having too much coffee in the morning and not balancing it with water can have serious consequences for your waistline. Your body needs water because it jumpstarts your metabolism, provides your brain with fuel and helps the body flush out toxins. She adds that the body needs water in the morning because it is playing ‘catch up’ to break down all the extract nutrients after sleeping all night.
Hit the Snooze Button: Oversleeping is usually associated with poor diets and weight gain, says Kathleen. She states that having low amounts of sleep can affect a person’s concentration which makes them more likely to eat junk food. But she also states that sleeping for too long can have the same effect because the body is unable to sync to the proper time. She adds that this can lead to issues such as blood sugar fluctuations and higher body weight.
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