What Goes Up, Must Come Down

The Ups & Downs of Weight Gain

Dieter Todd hopped on his weight loss scales and gasped as he viewed a five-pound weight gain, his mouth so wide and open that a diesel could have driven through with room to spare.

Sure, he'd been feeling a bit heavier for the last couple of days - but not five pounds heavier. What - oh what had prompted this weight gain of dino-egg proportions? Let's see if we can figure out what may have caused Dieter Todd's unexplained weight gain.

Situations that impact the number on the weight scales creating sudden weight gain include:

a. too many fiestas;
b. drinking a lot of fluids before weighing in;
c. hidden health issues such as diabetes, thyroid imbalances, hormone imbalances and allergies;
d. medical tests such as those conducted for digestive issues in which the patient is given an x-ray cocktail;
e. pregnancy;
f. unwise food choices;
g. inactivity such as experienced in office positions;
h. slow metabolism;
i. excess salt (sodium);

Now that we've listed the common culprits of sudden weight gain, let's see if we can pinpoint Dieter Todd's issue step-by-step.

a. too many fiestas; no, because Todd has been carefully watching his food intake.
b. drinking a lot of fluids before weighing in; no, because Todd weighed before consuming any fluids (or food).
c. hidden health issues such as diabetes, thyroid imbalances, hormone imbalances and allergies; no, because Todd recently went in for his annual check-up and all was well.
d. medical tests such as those conducted for digestive issues in which the patient is given an x-ray cocktail; no, because Todd wasn't involved in medical tests over the last few days.
e.pregnancy; no, because Todd is almost certain that he is not pregnant.
f. unwise food choices; no, because Todd has been carefully watching his food choices.
g. inactivity such as experienced in office positions; no, because although Todd has an desk job, he religiously exercises.
h. slow metabolism; rather doubtful given Todd's level of activity, his healthy diet and youthful age.
i. excess salt (sodium); ahh - could those calorie-friendly, yet rather salty pretzels that Todd has been snacking on for the last couple of days be the Weight Gain Culprit? Highly likely.

In Summary

When weighing-in renders an unexpected jump in the numbers on the scales, don't panic - and don't give up if you're dieting. If you've been faithful to your daily diet, relax and lay back as you retrace your steps. Imagine yourself walking along the Weight Loss Trail, exploring your daily diet and activity level for the past few days. Odds are, you'll be able to identify the Weight Gain Culprit.

In Todd's case, it may take several days for his false weight gain to diminish - as long as one day per pound of water weight gain. Should he consider an OTC diuretic? Definitely NOT. For weight gain associated with salt intake, grabbing a natural diuretic from Mother Nature might provide quicker results. Apples, cranberries and melon are stellar remedies for assisting the body in releasing water retention. Why fill the body with chemicals when Mother Nature is 100% pure?

And of course, if an individual feels that the unexplained weight gain may be associated with a hidden health issue, they should see their doctor without delay.

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