Get Enough Sleep
Adequate sleep is about a lot more than promoting optimal cognitive function. Numerous studies have found a strong link between the amount of sleep we get and our weight. Not surprisingly, the less sleep we get, the harder it may be for us to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Research suggests lack of sleep may be problematic on numerous fronts—it has been linked to decreased fat burning, insulin resistance (which increases fat storage) and increased cravings for unhealthy foods that can derail weight loss efforts, such as sugar and processed carbohydrates.
Manage Stress
We all know that nasty thing called stress can wreak all sorts of havoc on our health—it messes with our hormones and produces all sorts of physical changes that can lead to disease. According to WebMD, research suggests it may also lead to weight gain. In people who are already overweight, high stress levels were linked with packing on even more pounds. The mental effects of stress can also be detrimental to weight loss—when we feel stressed, we feel crappy. When we feel crappy, we are more negative and pessimistic and we care less about our health. All of this is a recipe for binge eating, neglecting exercise and overall just giving up on trying to be healthy.