Want to fall off the weight-control wagon? Just a few of these fattening foods are all it takes

You watch your weight. You cut back on snacks. You even hit the gym twice a week. But no matter how hard you try, the pounds come creeping back. The culprit? It could be one of these inflationary foods. Each is so fattening that just the occasional indulgence could result in major weight gain–even if you do everything else right. Read on to uncover nine foods that can make anyone fat.

1. MuffinsEating a muffin on your way to work may seem like a healthy breakfast, but most store-bought versions are simply cake in disguise. A Starbucks Blueberry Muffin contains 430 calories, an Au Bon Pain Corn Muffin has 530, and a Dunkin’ Donuts Chocolate-Chip Muffin packs a whopping 630.
The bottom line: If you eat one of these three times a week, you could gain one to two pounds a month.

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2. Cinnamon rollsThese sweet, sticky treats are favorites in shopping malls and airports across the country. But a regular habit could be enough to declare war on your waistline. A classic Cinnabon Roll, for example, tips the scales at a staggering 730 calories.
The bottom line: If you frequent the food court for one each week, prepare to gain an extra 10 pounds a year.

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3. Onion rings How bad could onions be? Well, it’s the batter, the breading, and the deep-frying that make this crispy side order so diet-deadly. Jack in the Box’s version has 500 calories, while Nathan’s Famous Onion Rings weighs in at 745.
The bottom line: Eating one order of onion rings a week could translate to an annual weight gain of seven to 10 pounds.

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4. NachosFast-food nachos are usually one of the most fattening choices on the hors d’oeuvres menu. Taco Bell’s Mucho Grande Nachos boasts 1320 calories, while On the Border’s Stacked Border Nachos contains a mind-boggling 2,740.
The bottom line: With these kinds of calories, you could gain one-third to two-thirds of a pound in a single sitting.

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5. Buffalo wingsThese sports-bar staples are coated in butter and hot sauce, deep-fried to a crisp, then slathered in blue-cheese dressing. Is it any surprise that they can instantly undo virtually any diet? Denny’s Buffalo Wings have 974 calories per plate, while Ruby Tuesday’s popular appetizer boasts a whopping 1,090.
The bottom line: Indulging in just once plateful a month is all it takes to pack on four extra pounds per year.

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6. Cheese friesAs if classic French fries weren’t fattening enough, these cheese-smothered versions are positively calorific. One of the worst offenders is Outback Steakhouse’s Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing, which contains a stratospheric 2,900 calories.
The bottom line: This appetizer can pack on the pounds almost overnight. In fact, you’re almost guaranteed to gain an extra three-quarters of a pound every time you eat one.

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7. Chicken pot pieOnce you look at the nutritional label, this classic comfort food seems anything but soothing. Pepperidge Farm’s Chunky Chicken Parmesan Premium Pot Pie contains 520 calories, while Kentucky Fried Chicken’s version packs 770.
The bottom line: Eat this diet-buster once a week, and you could weigh seven to 10 pounds more this time next year.

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8. Carrot cakeIt’s hard to believe that only one slice of anything could undermine an otherwise healthy eater, but with carrot cake, it’s almost guaranteed. A slice from Denny’s contains 799 calories, while the Whole Foods version has 830.
The bottom line: Is this decadent dessert really worth the caloric cost? Just a slice a week could cause you to gain one pound a month.

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9. MilkshakesThese beverages may seem benign, but don’t be fooled: Milkshakes often contain more calories than banana splits or hot-fudge sundaes. A large Strawberry Milkshake from Dairy Queen contains 980 calories, while a Jack in the Box Chocolate Malted Crunch version has 1,310.
The bottom line: Sip at your own risk: Just two a week could make you gain two to three pounds every month.

The world is becoming more and more obsessed by the threat of obesity
as the weight of the average person continues to grow. However, the
exact science of gaining weight is not quite as straightforward as it
may seem. For instance, some people out there can eat anything that
they want without worry of packing on the pounds. On the contrary,
some people who cut all the good, tasty foods out of their diet still
fail to lose any weight.

Some scientists believe that all people possess a natural weight that
is determined biologically, and the body makes every effort to
maintain that weight, no matter if it is thick or thin. However,
experts agree that this is not all there is to it. They believe that a
number of other issues may also affect a person’s weight. Experts
claim that half the reason for each individuals weight comes from
genetics, the other half comes from environment. Although, with some
conditions and diseases you have a 100% chance of becoming susceptible
if you have the gene, it is not the same case for obesity.

Here is more insight into why some people can think about a doughnut
and gain five pounds, while others can eat all day long and experience
little or no weight gain at all:

Metabolism. DNA may have a lot to do with why some people tend
to stay slimmer than others do. Some people may see no fluctuations in
appetite, while others can eat and eat without getting full. In
addition, some people put on muscle, which weighs more than fat.
Researchers are working on experiments on the human growth hormone and
the role it plays in weight gain, or the lack there of. The theory is
based on the idea that with a higher level of growth hormone, an
individual burns more energy, preventing excessive weight gain.

Medical History. A number of different nutrient and vitamin
deficiencies may contribute to a person not gaining weight. The
nutrients in food make a major difference, as does the energy that you
use. Some medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Graves’
disease tend to prevent people from packing on the pounds in spite of
their increased appetite. Chronic lung disease can also keep a person
thin.

Hunger. Thinner people eat when they are hungry. People who
never seem to get fat do not associate food with comfort from sadness
or stress. Their worlds do not revolve around the food that they eat.
Thinner people do not think about food and may even “forget” to eat.

Meal Planning. People who seem to stay thin take the time to
think about what they are going to eat, rather than just go in the
kitchen and catch whatever falls out of the cabinet. These people eat
what they want to eat. For example, if they are craving salty French
fries, a bowl of lettuce will not suffice.

Consciousness. People who never seem to get fat are conscious of
the food that they put in their mouth. They pay attention as they eat
and seldom find themselves scraping the bottom of the bag.

Discipline. People who never get fat stop eating when they are
no longer hungry. It does not matter if they are in an expensive
restaurant and only eat half an entrée; when they are full, they quit
eating.

Activity. One of the biggest differences between people who stay
thin and others who gain weight uncontrollably is the amount of
activity that fills each day. A person who has a job that requires
physical labor or a lot of walking and running will effectively burn
off more calories while they work. If that same person stops by the
gym on the way home, more calories burned. When that person comes home
and plays with his or her children, they burn even more calories. On
the other hand, someone who sits at a desk all day does not exercise
regular and eats dinner in front of the television will unsurprisingly
gain weight more easily.

Dena White is a freelance blogger and covers topics such as how to
choose among online degrees in nursing
and how to apply for college grants at an online school.