7
Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Even
if you exercise and eat right, you might still have a hard time
shedding pounds. Here are a few reasons why you're losing the
weight loss battle.
1.
Overeating healthy foods.
Just
because healthy foods are good for weight loss doesn't mean
you should overeat them. Just like any other food, healthy foods
like complex carbs, olive oil, avocados, nuts, fruits and so
on contain calories and if you overindulge in them, your calories
will add up leading to increased fat storage. A whole avocado
contains as many as 200 calories, so if you eat several of them
per day, that's overeating. Portion control is of utmost importance
for every meal, usually a fist-sized portion of each food item
is enough.
2.
Not eating enough veggies.
If
you're not losing weight as fast as you should, you need to
check whether you're eating enough fiber notably from veggies.
Dietary fiber aids digestion and prevents constipation which
is bad for weight loss. Include cruciferous vegetables like
broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, green
beans, asparagus and spinach regularly in your diet. These high-fiber
foods promote a sense of fullness and will keep hunger pangs
at bay.
3.
Eating "low-fat" foods.
Beware
about eating "low-fat" foods. Some have been stripped
of their nutrients and compensated by adding sugar, high fructose
corn syrup, sodium and other chemical additives which are counterproductive
for your weight loss efforts. It's easy to overindulge in those
so-called "low-fat" foods thinking they are aiding
weight loss when in fact, they are adding layers of fat to your
waistline. It's important to read the ingredients label well
first to know what you're really buying. There are certain low-fat
foods which are good though like greek yogurt which is high
in protein and low in fat without any added sugars or flavors.
Although it's healthy, it's pretty bland in taste and if you
want to enhance the taste, you can add some natural honey.
4.
Not eating breakfast.
Breakfast
should be your most important meal of the day to give you the
energy you'll need first thing in the morning and to jump-start
your fat burning metabolism. It's true many people are not hungry
in the morning and the best thing to do is wake up a few minutes
earlier. You should usually be hungrier 30 minutes after waking
up. If you skip breakfast, your body will hold onto fat because
it thinks it is starving, resulting in a break down of muscle
mass. Starvation does not burn fat but rather muscles and this
is something you don't want to happen since muscles burn calories.
Some people
have their workout in the morning and exercising on an empty stomach
will result in a poor workout due to lack of energy and also muscle
loss because when your body doesn't get food for energy, it will eat
away at your muscles for fuel. It's imperative for anyone on a weight
loss regimen to have a healthy breakfast. Some rolled oats, eggs, greek
yogurt, fruits and a glass of water are ideal choices.
5.
Not getting adequate sleep.
Sleep
is vital not only for general health and well-being but also
for weight loss. Ongoing lack of sleep can result in chronic
fatigue syndrome which can have a disastrous effect on your
metabolism making you feel lethargic and exhausted all day long.
A sluggish metabolism won't help you lose weight. Try getting
at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted quality sleep every night.
6.
Not drinking enough water.
Water
is fundamental for health as it hydrates your body and can also
promote weight loss by acting as an appetite suppressant and
maintaining effective bowel activity thereby preventing constipation.
As a rule of thumb, have 8-10 glasses of water per day. Sipping
water throughout the day will keep you well hydrated, energized
and can speed up your metabolic rate for faster weight loss.
Researchers have found that drinking 17 ounces or 500 ml of
water can increase the subject's metabolic rate by a whopping
30%.
7.
Not consistent in your efforts.
Weight
loss is an ongoing process and not only a one-time achievement
but rather a lifestyle. Even after you reach your goals, you
should continue with your efforts to maintain your progress.
If you are exercising and eating right during the week, but
overindulging in fast foods, abusing alcohol and indulging in
late-night partying every weekend, most of your weight loss
efforts will be in vain. Moderation is key here. In addition,
you need to stick to your routine be it exercise or nutrition
and follow it day in day out without fail. You need to be disciplined,
consistent and patient.
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