We all seem to be stuck in this bubble where weight gain persists and the idea of losing is only for those who can afford the expensive surgeries or miracle cures. Unfortunately even those cures will only last so long if a lifestyle change is not made.

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Most people know portion sizing is one of the major reasons for weight gain but I bet they didn't consider some of the other reasons. And many people probably don't know that the recommended diet in the Canadian Food Guide (or other similar food guides) is not always good. Further more, many probably don't realize that our western diet is destroying and sometimes turning off certain functions that would normally keep your weight in check.

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Here are eight common reasons, in no specific order, why we put on weight and have a hard time taking it off. A holistic nutritionist, naturopath or health kinesiology practitioner can help you find proper proportions of what is necessary for a cleaner, healthier lifestyle, These 10 common reasons are as follows;

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1. High carbohydrate intake - The common phrase in today's society is "Meat & Potatoes" and that is because our diet are commonly made of mainly such things. Focusing in on the potatoes side of it, this is categorized as a carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are basically any sugar from simplex to complex. In the case of potatoes, pasta, rice, breads, cereals, basic sugar, pastry treats, candy, etc, we usually eat it as the main staple of our diets over exceeding any other required food type.

Although carbohydrates are necessary in a diet, too many carbohydrates lead to increased fat storage, an acidic bodily environment and sluggishness. Acidic bodily environment, in turn, paves way for excessive inflammation, overgrowth of bacterial infections and ideal conditions for cancer growth.

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2. This item is related to the first but I feel deserves a category of its own. Over excessive consumption of products containing High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Such products that contain HFCS include; carbonated drink products (especially the colas), many forms of candies, and often commercially prepared baking or foods.

What is HFCS? It is an extremely concentrated form of fructose that is commonly added for taste. It's sweetness value far exceed regular table sugar and can be quite addicting. The metabolization of HFCS occurs in the liver and is processed like alcohol without the buzz. The excessive sugar content is then placed into fat storage due to the overloading of the body's needs.

Another side effect of HFCS is over consumption of this product leads to the trickery of the body's regulatory function - the "I'm Hungry/I'm Full" mechanism. Thus shutting off the "I am full reflex." You never realize that your body is full and are continually hungry - therefore more and more weight gain.

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3. Medications. Many medication can lead to weight gain. It actually becomes a vicious circle. You start to gain weight and some symptoms start to occur. You go to the doctor. The doctor prescribes some pills. More weight gain occurs. More symptoms occur. Back to the doctor you to start the whole process again.

It is important to know that not all medication can do this. But in many weight loss cases, I have seen many people go right off the medication all together and be symptom-free through careful guidance with their physician.

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4. Lack of vegetables - Many North Americans don't even add vegetables in their diet. There can be serious repercussions from this. Many vegetables hold a detoxifying element especially in the raw form. In this form, they aid with digestion by providing live enzymes that assist in the digestion process.

They also help to provide an alkaline environment that is antagonistic to inflammation, infection and even cancer. Filling our diets with the proper amounts of vegetables will give us an advantage in those three areas and it will help with the roughage requirements in our diet to keep our bowels healthy.

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5. Low-calorie sweeteners - There has been some research now that is showing that the low-calories sweeteners actually lead to weight gain. Originally designed to help reduce calorie intake they are now found to contribute to obesity by causing people to increase their food intake. Specific low-calorie sweeteners also have their own multitude of side effects from headaches to cancerous tumors. Stevia is a safe low-calorie sweetener.

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6. Fat consumption - Although some fat is required in our diet for vitamin uptake and even brain health, our western society consumes way to much of the wrong kind of fat. Keep your fats portions small but don't eliminate them completely.

The biggest culprits - fast food and pre-prepared foods from the grocery store. Elimination of these high fats foods will greatly increase your chances to losing the weight. Addition of low-fat food is good but please read labels. Often they replace it with other harmful ingredients.

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7. Salt intake - Most people are unaware of the salt in their diet. Although some salt intake is healthy, over use is not.The bulk comes from prepared foods such as noodles, pizza pops, and frozen food preparations. Eliminating prepared foods will reduce your salt intake greatly and reduce your salt-based weight gain.

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8. Water intake - Low water intake is common today. Our need for water seems to be shut off with all the caffeinated and chemical-laced products we consume. One should drink no less that 8 cups a day. Water not only hydrates but it also flushes out toxin that hinder the weight loss process.