Sure, a slower metabolism may be the culprit behind those sneaky extra pounds, but sometimes there’s more to it than that. Albert Matheny, R.D., C.S.C.S., says that small shifts in our lifestyle, like how much you’re working out, drinking, or what you’re eating, have a big impact over time.
To ID what’s behind your weight gain, Matheny recommends taking a look at the habits you had before you noticed a change in your body, and figure out what changed.
Stress and sleep deprivation could actually be to blame for your weight gain, too. “Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones that control appetite and satiation,” Onsgard explains, “and when we don’t get enough sleep these hormones get out of balance and make us feel constantly hungry.” These hormones get balanced in the deeper stages of sleep, says Onsgard, so getting a solid seven to nine hours per night should be enough time for this process to take place.