Losing some fat tissues from your body can be quite a herculean task. You need to learn the right tips, persevere and stay patient. Weight loss does not occur overnight, it is true that fat takes some time to fall off. However, some individuals take longer than normal to notice weight loss in their bodies. You may have counted your calories, cut back on your carb consumption and kept a good fitness regimen, all to no avail. If you have done everything that seems right, and you still do not observe any changes. These might be one of the reasons;
HORMONAL IMBALANCE
An obstacle that can plague your weight loss journey is hormonal imbalance. It is possible that you are doing everything right and still not notice any loss. The principal hormones that can make it difficult for you to lose weight are female sex hormones, thyroid hormones and insulin.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), insulin-resistance and thyroid hormone imbalance can cause you to gain more weight than you can ever imagine. If you observe this, it is not enough for you to give up. Continue with your workout and healthy eating plan, it will pay off with time.
FAD DIETS
Fad diets range from filling your bodies with lots of slimming teas, smoothies and cutting back on some meals, all channeled towards a goal- an insatiable desire to lose weight quickly. Despite warnings from the medical society that it is best to go natural and stay patient while losing weight, some persons still depend on fad diets to drop some pounds.
Some of dietary plans can be safe and effective, especially for short term use while a host of others can put cult-followers at risks.
INADEQUATE WATER INTAKE
Approximately 75% of the body weight of humans is made of water. So, when you start your weight loss journey your body losses water before it starts to shed its fat mass. Water keeps your body hydrated, regulates metabolic reactions, improves digestion and eliminates toxic substances from the body. When your body lacks enough water, it will slow down other processes in the body that helps to get rid of excess weight.
POOR COOKING METHODS
You may have done everything required to make you lose weight, and still feel sad because you have not seen any difference. Has it occurred to you that you are still fat because of the cooking methods you employ? Individuals who love deep fried foods are introducing hydrogenated, unhealthy fats to their systems. Foods which get soaked in fat will make you stay fat even when you skip your diet. In the same vein, when you overcook meals, it can cause depletion of the nutrients in the food. For example, overcooking vegetables leads to loss of vitamins and minerals which play crucial roles in weight loss.
STRESS
One of the major reasons why you are not losing weight is because you are putting your body through stress. Stress increases the level of cortisol in the body, cortisol leads to an increase in appetite and production of fat in the abdominal region. Stress can be work-related, personal or caused by a decline in finances. If you are on a weight loss program, it is important to start practicing breathing exercises or meditation to help you relax properly and keep your body stress-free.
LACK OF HEALTHY FATS
While it is not uncommon to preach against a high consumption of fat, we must let you know that not all fats are bad. The membranes of the body and the vital organs like the brain are predominantly fat, so the only way to keep them healthy is by consuming a diet that has healthy fats.
Ever come across the saying; eating fat to burn fat? This is where it comes to play. One of the most common forms of healthy fats is Omega-3 fatty acids which helps in the reduction of inflammation. Food sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are olive oil, flax seeds, bran oil and sunflower oil. The rule of thumb to take into consideration when consuming Omega-3 fatty acids is to consume them with discretion because excess consumption can cause harm to the body.
CONSTANT SKIPPING OF MEALS
Skipping meals to lose weight is a myth. Contrary to what many weight-loss enthusiasts think, starving or skipping meals, especially breakfast will not make you lose the extra pounds. When you skip a diet, it causes your brain to act slower than normal leading to a reduced metabolism.
Asides reducing your metabolism, skipping meals causes you to binge on your next food. It is also important to avoid eating large meals, reduce your meals to about five smaller meals.
WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAU
Those of us who have embarked on a weight loss plan may have experienced the phenomenon called “Weight Loss Plateau”. You hit a plateau in your weight loss goal when you notice that your healthy, clean diet and exercise routines no longer effect a reduction in your weight. If you observe that your weight loss has slowed down and become stalled, do not get discouraged. Rev up your exercise routines and reduce your caloric intake. Also, it will be helpful to stay busy all through the day to enable you burn more calories.
LATE NIGHT MEALS
Eating late at night spells doom in your weight loss journey. When you consume a piece of food at night no matter how small, it can cause an increase in the level of sugar in your blood as well as an increase in insulin and temperature, making it almost impossible your body to combust fat. To prevent this, try eating at least 4 hours before going to bed at night.
LACK OF SLEEP
You can’t lose weight when you lack sleep. Like stress, sleep deprivation can cause your metabolism to slow down which in turn leads to accumulation of more fat. The link between lack of sleep and weight gain is a vicious cycle which affects your midsection and your overall health. Research has proven that when your metabolism is slow, there is every tendency that you reach out to foods for ‘comfort” comfort foods are one of the culprits that has been identified as a chief cause of obesity.
Now that you understand the reason(s) why you are still fat despite skipping your diet, it is advisable that you modify any lifestyle habit that is stopping you from observing a change when you step on the weighing scale.
