If you eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly, you expect to be thin and healthy, right? Well, that is not always the case. There are several other elements in your life which influence weight gain. We are all aware of the fact that fried food, fast food, creamy desserts and sugar loaded drinks are major contributors to weight gain; however, what many of us don't realize is that there are several other factors in our life that affect our weight.

Lack of sleep is a major contributor to weight gain. When we don't get enough sleep our bodies become stressed and fatigued. This stress triggers our bodies to go into survival mode. When your body goes into survival mode, you store fat more efficiently, your metabolism slows down and your body produces certain chemicals (such as cortisol) which are known to cause obesity. When you are tired, you are also more likely to reach to food for comfort. Many of us reach for that sugar loaded soft drink in the early morning in order to gain a small energy boost. However, when your body is tired and fatigued, all of that sugar is going to get stored. Your body also goes into survival mode when you are under any type of stress, not only lack of sleep stress. So it is important to control your stress levels.

Certain medications are yet another reason for weight gain. An increased appetite, change in insulin levels and change in the way fat is stored, are all side effects of some medications. However, this does not mean that you should stop taking your medications, simply talk with your health care professional about the possible weight fluctuations that this medication may influence and what you can do in order to minimize the effects.

So if you are on a healthy diet and you exercise regularly, try applying some of these other tips into your lifestyle for even better weight results.