It can be discouraging to climb onto the weighing scale every day and not see it budge an inch towards your goal weight. Fat loss is a slow and ongoing process; it doesn’t happen overnight. But if you’re sticking diligently to your diet and still can’t lose weight, clearly there’s something wrong. Here are 8 common reasons why you’re not losing weight.
1. You’re not keeping track of your food intake
The principle behind fat loss is simple; you need to consume less calories than you expend. A consistent calorie deficit over a period of weeks and month will cause you to lose weight. If you’re not losing weight, it could be possible you’re consuming way too many calories without even realizing it. Counting calories is tedious, but it might be just what you need to shed those pounds.
2. You’re not drinking enough water
You know that over 70% of your body is made of water, but chances are you’re drinking far less than the recommended daily 8 glasses. Carry a bottle of sugar free lemonade or some other healthy beverage to drink throughout the day.
3. You’re starving yourself
It might seem counter intuitive, but eating too little can actually cause your body to store more fat. This is because your body senses that food is scarce, so it stores a lot of what it gets as fat to fuel periods of starvation. Adopt a healthy diet to lose weight safely.
4. You’re not active
A caloric deficit coupled with inactivity causes your body to break down muscle to synthesize amino acids. You want to lose fat, not muscle. Don’t sit at your desk all day. Walking, cardio, yoga and strength training are some activities to consider that will help you lose weight.
5. You’re not getting enough sleep
A lack of sleep interferes with the body’s normal functioning. Studies have revealed that poor sleep is associated with weight gain. Make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep daily. If this isn’t possible, try to nap whenever you can.
6 You’re choosing the wrong foods
You’re dieting and limiting your food intake. So the foods that you do consume must be healthy and nutritionally dense. Eliminate unhealthy snacks and eat more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Avoid skipping meals.
7. You’re consuming hidden calories
A 12 ounce can of soda contains around 140 calories while a pint of beer has around the same number of calories. Additionally, condiments you may be using such as ketchup and mayonnaise tend to be full of sugar. Check the label before you buy foods.
8. You may have a medical condition
Some medical problems such as thyroid disorders or sleep apnea are known to cause weight gain. If you’ve tried everything else, it may be worth it to get tested for these conditions by a qualified healthcare practitioner.
