Among Goans when you meet your friends, instead of greeting with a plain, “Hello. How do you do?” we almost make it a habit to say… “Hey, you have gone thin” or the reverse, “Hi you have put on weight!” Irritating as it may sound, it often inadvertently tells you the truth about the pounds you may have gained or lost. It also reminds those who are in the wrong that it is time to take stock.
Here are some reasons why you may gain unintended weight 1) “Your Sleep Schedule is off”: Too much or too little sleep — less than 5 hours a night — can be linked to weight gain. Both can throw off the way your body makes the hormones that control your appetite and hunger. 2) “You Don’t Drink Enough Water”: Between 2 and 6 cups of clear, plain water each day can help you lose extra pounds. Water has no calories at all, so it satisfies your thirst without adding weight. And when you drink enough water, you may be less likely to grab sodas, juices, or coffee drinks packed with sugar. 3) “You Sit All Day”: Your desk job or TV obsession may make it harder for you to drop those pesky pounds. When you sit most of the time, your body can lose its ability to know when you’ve eaten too much. Even brief “exercise breaks” during the day can help you stay healthy. Get up for three 10-minute walks around meetings or your favorite shows. 4) “You Reward Workouts with Food”: Exercise is a great way to lose weight — it burns calories and builds muscle mass. But if you indulge in a big dinner or smoothie after every workout, you can ruin all that sweaty work. 5) “You Overdo the Alcohol”: Whether you like wine, beer, or mixed drinks, alcohol has calories that add to your daily amount. If you often have 3 or more drinks a day, you’re more likely to gain weight, no matter what type of alcohol you drink. Stick to light or moderate drinking. 6) “Stress Gives You Snack Attacks”: If you feel tense, you’re more likely to reach for unhealthy, high-calorie treats for a quick comfort fix. You may eat when you don’t really need food. 7) “Thyroid Is Sluggish”: If this tiny gland in the front of your throat lags on the job, you could gain as much as 5 to 10 extra pounds. 8) “Medication”: Some drugs you take for health problems could make you gain weight. For example, steroids can change your metabolism and make you feel hungrier. Antihistamines that calm your hay fever could cause weight gain. 9) “Menopause”: weight creeps up during menopause. Changes in your hormones make you more likely to get a “spare tire” (excess fat around the waistline).
On the other hand, you may experience unintended weight loss. Sudden weight loss without a reason can be a sign of a health problem. 1) “Hyperthyroidism”: If your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone, it revs up your metabolism so you burn more calories and lose weight. You also may have more bowel movements and a racing heartbeat, and you may feel anxious. 2) “Diabetes”: Insulin is a hormone your body makes to turn blood sugar into energy. If you have diabetes, you either can’t make insulin or can’t use it the way you need to. When your cells run out of fuel, your body thinks it’s starving and starts burning fat and muscle. This makes you lose weight. 3) “Medication”: Drugs used to treat certain health conditions may ramp up your metabolism so you burn more calories or make you less hungry. These include stimulants and chemotherapy drugs. 4) “Stress”: It’s normal to drop a few pounds after something like losing a job, a divorce, or the death of a loved one. You should return to your regular weight once you have time to grieve the loss or get used to the change. 5) “Cancer”: These harmful cells may use more of your energy, or they might make chemicals that change the way you digest food. Your immune system often has to work harder, too. That tires you out and makes your body burn more calories, which can lead to weight loss. 6) “Dementia”: You may lose a lot of weight because you forget to eat or find it harder to chew or swallow. Chronic infections, special diets, and drugs used to treat dementia can make it worse.
Weight loss or weight gain can change your whole character. It is amazing! Shedding pounds or collecting them does change your personality and your entire life. Imagine you meet the guy of your dreams. He’s funny, smart, likes the same things as you and is the biggest sweetheart ever. Only catch? He’s kind of lacking in the looks department. Do you let your lack of physical attraction to him ruin the relationship… or does it not matter to you? Whatever the answer, remember that a healthy weight wards off sickness. Whereas a life of abundant care can lead us to maintain proper weight, a life without care, may play havoc with our pounds and lead to a lot of unhappiness and misery.
(Dr. Francisco Colaço is a seniormost consulting physician, pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa, column writer, singer/songwriter/music aficionado, Mando exponent, past president of the state IMA, social activist, popular orator and toastmaster, family man, with deep faith in God.)
