When you gain weight, you may be quick to blame one of the usual suspects for it, like poor diet or lack of exercise. However, there are many less well-known causes for those few extra pounds. Here are five surprising everyday factors that could be behind your weight gain.

Coffee
Recent studies suggest that although coffee may not have very many calories, it can actually cause weight gain—as well as type 2 diabetes by stimulating cortisol production and insulin resistance. Your body naturally produces the hormone cortisol when you are under stress. So, if you drink coffee when you are stressed, it can double the production of this hormone, increasing blood pressure and the demand for blood sugar, which causes cravings. Cortisol also causes our bodies to store fat in the abdominal area. Green tea is a better substitute for coffee, as extensive studies show that it can control Blood Sugar Levels and may boost metabolism to help burn fat.

Dining Out
Restaurant hopping can be one of the quickest ways to pack on the pounds. The worst restaurants to frequent are Italian, Mexican and Chinese, because you will most likely eat more Carbs in one sitting than you should eat in two days. Other eating out traditions include cocktails, grazing on bread baskets, sharing appetizers and indulging in dessert. If you are really serious about losing weight, then schedule yourself to no more than two outings a week and prepare before you go out to eat with carb-blocking supplements that contain Phase 2 Carb Controller.

Prescription Drugs
You can gain as much as 10 pounds per month from drugs designed to treat depression, mood disorders, seizures, migraines, blood pressure and diabetes. In fact, if you have gained weight in a short period of time and the only change is a new prescription, you may want to talk to your doctor about changing to a different drug. Every drug works in the body differently to cause weight gain. Some increase the appetite while others alter the way fat is stored. Some of the most common types of medications that cause weight gain include steroids, antidepressants, diabetes medications, high blood pressure medications and heartburn medications. That’s not to say that you need to stop taking these medications, but consult your doctor and find out if there are other options.

Superhero Syndrome
A superhero’s life is a constant emergency, putting out one fire to the next with little or no sleep as they lead a double life juggling career and family obligations. If this describes your day, your body is most likely producing more cortisol that will increase your insulin levels, inhibiting your body from burning fat so it can store it for later. Even superheroes need some downtime, so reduce your stress hormone levels by taking a yoga class, going on a 45-minute walk or stepping outside to surround yourself in nature and some peace and quiet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults have between seven to nine hours of sleep a night for optimal health.

Carbs
Carbohydrates in excess are waistline expanders. Now, we do all need carbohydrates— the right types and in the right amounts—to experience good health. But as with many other things in our modern society, we tend to way overdo it with carbs. You can avoid the bad ones and hence, manage your best weight.

Defining Carbohydrates
Popular low-carb diets like Zone, Atkins, South Beach and Paleo limit the intake of carbs, yet many people may not understand what they are or if they are really good/bad for you.

Carbohydrates are found in foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, potatoes, pastries, and candy and are considered the body’s preferred energy source. More specifically, carbs are sugar molecules either standing alone or bound together into groups. The more molecules, the more complex it becomes. The simpler a carb is, the quicker it can be absorbed by your body and either used for energy or stored as fat. Fiber is the most complex form of carb found in our diets, while sucrose (fructose and glucose) are the simplest carbs.

Carbs that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream are called simple carbs because of their molecular structure. Complex carbs have a more complicated molecular structure, which the body takes longer to break down (such as grains and veggies).

Controlling Carbs
To better control your blood sugar levels, which in turn will help decrease your risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, immune insufficiency, weight gain, etc., we need to limit the amount of foods that are simple carbs or those that convert to simple carbs easily in the body. Other than foods like fruit juice, sugary fruits (bananas), etc., we also need to avoid starchy foods. Starches are found in most processed and packaged foods such as pasta, breads, deserts, many snacks and cereals and are found in potatoes and rice.

Other than avoiding simple carbs and starches, there really aren’t many other choices for people. However, dietary supplements, like Phase 2 Carb Controller are excellent options. Phase 2 is a specific extract from white kidney bean that has scientifically been shown to inhibit the enzyme amylase from breaking starches down into sugar. In fact, the research shows that it can inhibit up to two-thirds of the caloric effect of starches in your diet. Studies have shown it helps with weight loss programs, maintaining weight loss and over time, curbing your cravings for sweets. If you struggle with carbs (especially starchy carbs), taking Phase 2 prior to any meals or snacks that contain starchy carbs will help negate a significant amount of the harmful effects of those foods. Be sure to take it 20-30 minutes prior to your starchy meals and snacks to achieve the full benefits of Phase 2.