Weigh to Say "No Way (Jose')~ Did you know...

I was reading an article in the health section of the New Orleans Times Picayune yesterday called "5 Reasons why your Diet is not Working" i the weekly "Eating Right" column by Molly Kimball.

Just the fact that I am NOT dieting made me almost skip over it but then something caught my eye and made me pay attention.

It made me quickly think of the tons of people here on Sparks and others who beat themselves over and over with wet soggy noodles agonizing over why when all they try, they never seem to lose weight.

Separate from the issue of are they doing things properly, there are always extenuating circumstances, things outside of your ability that could easily contribute to why it isn't happening. I've listed a few highlights from the article.

While it is not a (as in Monopoly) free "get out of jail card", it may also bring some awareness as to why it is more difficult for some to release weight.

I would suggest ones do their own research and adjustments. And one has to gauge if the benefits they receive from especially in the 1st listing is better one should continue to use it. Its a decision you and your doctor makes together for you health & well being.

For me, it explains when while Dr. Strangelove had me on all those different BP meds as she experimented why I put on some much weight although my food intake had remain the same. It was not ALL meds that did it, some of it came from slowing down as I got sicker & sicker, but at least now I know I had an external contributing factor.

And I did indeed raise questions about other approaches for my blood pressure, including things more holistic, but she was so adamant that "NO! Nothing else will work, you can only do this! If you don't you'll be dead in 6 months". (Well that statement was made almost 2 years ago & I am still here!)


If not relevant to you, please skip.

Several common culprits that might behind those excess pounds:

1.Prescription Medications (Caught my attention)

Certain medicines CAN cause weight gain or at least make it more difficult to lose weight. Unfortunately it may take months & a gain of 10-20 or more before you realize that a medication may be to blame.

According to Sal Scaccia,Pharm.D list six main categories of commonly prescribed medication that may cost weight gain:

Blood pressure meds, particularly certain alpha blockers & beta blockers. Alpha blockers may increase appetite & some beta blockers decrease metabolic rate, inhibit the breakdown of fat & increase insulin resistance, which can lead to weigh gain.


Birth control pills & HRT. It is not clear why hormones may cause weight gain in some people, but it is possibly a combination of increased appetite & fluid retention.

Diabetes medication. Insulin can lead to weight gain as a result of improved appetite, better use of blood sugars & an increase in the conversion of carbs & protein to body fat" according to Scaccia.

Oral steroids. Some like Prednisone taken for an extended period can impair glucose tolerance & increase the amount of fat tissue in the body.

Antidepressants (SSRIs like Celexa, Prozac,Paxil & Zoloft can increase appetite carbs in particular, because they affect the body's serotonin & histamine activity. And tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil & not only increase carbohydrate cravings, but can also decrease metabolic rate.

Anti-seizure meds & mood stabilizers including Tigretol, Neurontinin,Depakote,Lyrica & Lithium can decrease energy expenditure & inhibit the breakdown of fat + increase carb cravings & increase the conversion of carbs& protein to body fat.


The other 4 reasons:

2.An under active thyroid

3.Polcystic ovarian syndrome

4.Overestimating calories burned in exercise (I found this interesting):
"Most cardiovascular exercise machines are calibrated for a 150 pound man. If you weigh less (or a 150 pound woman who generally have less muscle mass per pound, tend to burn fewer calories per pound then men), will have burn fewer calories then the readout will show.

5. Taking the weekend off.

Researchers who've tracked people's food intake over a year have come to discover that on the average people consume an extra 236 calories on each weekend day.