There are also specific genes that have been found to increase fatty food cravings, like one called Ghrelin <\/a>(which is prevalent in people who are sleep deprived,\u00a0 by the way).<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s Leptin, which is produced by your body\u2019s fat cells. When your Leptin level falls below a specific and individual level, your body programmes you to want more food. If you\u2019re healthy, then you stop craving food (or crave less food) when your Leptin levels reach a certain threshold. But if you\u2019re leptin resistant, you\u2019ll keep eating high-calorie foods, even when your Leptin levels have exceeded that threshold.<\/p>\n But you\u2019re responsible for your weight too<\/strong><\/p>\n But in spite of these findings, scientists insist that individuals can change their behaviour to take control of their weight.<\/p>\n You could come from a family that has one of the genetic mutations we talked about earlier. But you could be strict about eating the right foods, in the right quantities, and getting sufficient exercise to control weight gain. And in so doing, you won\u2019t fall victim to your genetics.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get overweight in the first place<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s also new research emerging, which points to the fact that once you\u2019ve gained too much weight, losing it gets tougher and tougher. Scientists are finding that once you have to lose a lot of weight, keeping that weight off means you have to eat even less and exercise even more to maintain the lower weight, than someone who didn\u2019t gain as much weight as you (but is the same height and age and gender as you).<\/p>\n These scientists have found that your body (your metabolism<\/a>, and the hunger mechanisms of your body) want to return to that heavier physique,\u00a0which means you have to work harder at your diet and exercise routine, to avoid that boomerang.<\/p>\n Essentially, if you want to look good in your favourite pair of jeans or that bikini, then you can\u2019t simply hope to lose 5kg a few weeks before beach season. You have to pursue a healthy lifestyle. And you know what that means: Avoiding high-calorie foods, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, etc. You have to motivate yourself constantly to avoid weight gain.<\/p>\n If learning about good nutrition and wellness make you feel inspired and motivated, maybe you\u2019re destined to become a star nutritionist. Check out Trifocus Fitness Academy\u2019s Specialised Nutrition Certification <\/a>today!<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/trifocusfitnessacademy.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/motivation_sep45-300x274.jpg\")
<\/p>\n