You've been trying to reduce weight, but you're not seeing the desired results, so you're probably wondering, "Why am I not losing weight?" We'll talk about a few of the reasons why you aren't losing weight today.
The automatic response when someone asks, “why am I not losing weight” is “you are eating too much” or “you are not exercising enough”. And while these responses are correct, there are many other factors that can hinder weight loss.
Proof of this can be seen in those tiny people who eat more than everyone but still don’t gain a pound. Knowing other reasons for not losing weight can be extremely beneficial for those who are looking to lose weight and get healthy.
By knowing the reasons why you are not losing weight won’t only help you understand your situation better, but can also help you know how to approach your weight loss journey more effectively.
12 Possible Reasons You are Not Losing Weight
#1. Health Conditions
Your inability to lose weight may be dues to a health condition such as thyroid problems.
People with hypothyroidism have low metabolism, which slows down the rate at which burn off calories, hindering weight loss.
So, you need to rule out any underlying health issues, if you know you are doing the right things, but not losing weight
#2. Medication
Different medications have different side effects and while most of these side effects are mentioned on the label, one that is often overlooked is weight gain.
The ones that are the most frequent offenders are those used to treat moods, sleep issues, and contraceptives. Steroids and other hormone treatments are also known to cause extreme weight gain and inhibit weight loss.
Whether this weight gain is from retaining water or having an increased appetite, the solution is the same . Do not stop your medication, rather, discuss with your doctor on what to do to lose weight while on the medication.
Many times doctors will be able to provide alternatives or suggestions on how to keep the weight off.
#3. Your Routine Never Changes
Our body loves to stay the same and stick to a schedule but this counter acts your fitness progress.
If your workout or exercise plan never changes then neither will your body. Your body will get used to the workload and you will eventually reach a self-inflicted plateau.
If you keep changing your routine with progressive overload you will shock your central nervous system, muscles and metabolism – all three will work harder to be able to cope with the stress.
Making you stronger, fitter and able to burn calories at a higher rate.
#4. You Don’t Pay Enough Attention to Your Calorie Intake
Are you counting macronutrients? Have you ever recorded your diet so you know your calorie intake on an average weekly basis?
Do you eat whenever you feel like it? If you are unsure about these questions then all 3 are certain possibilities of why you have not succeeded in losing weight.
We all need to work out on a calorie deficit if we plan to lose weight, also controlling your macro-nutrients guarantees you are still getting the right amount of nutrients to aid your recovery, muscle building AND fat loss.
You should also eat at set times (small portions and often instead) of binge eating. Binge eating slows the metabolic system and encourages the storage of fat cells.
#5. Wrong Food Choices
While eating in itself can cause huge amounts of weight gain, eating the wrong foods can exacerbate the situation and prevent you from losing weight.
The biggest problem with food today is that the majority is extremely processed, filled with chemicals that react poorly inside the body.
This won’t just cause weight gain, but also hormonal imbalances. Processed food can be found in most packaged, canned, and frozen items, and is very common in fast food facilities.
Cutting processed foods out of your diet is the best way to go if you are really serious about losing weight. Making smarter food choices can also help improve your moods and overall well-being.
This can be a hard thing to do, so swapping out one meal a day for one that is heavy in fresh veggies and organic products is a great way to start.
#6. You are Not Drinking Enough Water
Drinking enough water is very important for weight loss. Water helps with digestion, which is vital for effective weight loss. It also helps to flush out impurities and other things that can cause water retention from your body.
Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day!
#7. You Follow the Wrong Diet Plan
We see celebrities and magazines do it all the time. They print a diet that worked for ONE person, then everybody buys the magazine expecting the same results.
A doctor would not prescribe the same medication for 10 different illnesses and diets should be seen the same way.
Your age, sex, health conditions, allergies, heartbeat, cardio health and more ALL play a vital role in what will work for you.
All of these should be considered before you jump on the latest hype trends.
Specifically tailored nutritional and fitness plans are the way forward, not gimmicks.
#8. Stress
Stress has become a natural part of life in our current modern world. Whether its family issues or work, most people experience huge amounts of stress daily. Unfortunately, this is horrible on the body.
Stress releases hormones that are only supposed to enter the body when it is in danger.
Having this constantly being in the body causes the metabolism to slow down. And it also makes a person extremely hungry, craving foods that are high in fats, sugars, and oils.
It is important to learn how to manage stress effectively if you want to lose weight and live healthy. Try meditation as it can really help you relieve stress.
#9. You are Not Sleeping Enough
Truth is, a lot of people are not getting enough sleep especially with our fast-paced modern life. But, getting enough sleep is very import, not only for weight loss but also for our general wellness.
Lack of adequate sleep can lead to stress, which in turn leads to insomnia and before long, it becomes a vicious cycle that does your body no good.
Lack of sleep also makes you feel tired, so you won’t have the energy to exercise, plus it makes you hungry too. What a perfect recipe for a disastrous what loss journey!
Be sure to sleep for about 7-8 hours a day.
#10. Alcohol and Smoking
Most people know and accept the fact that drinking too much and smoking aren’t good for them. However, the fact that these poor habits can be bad for weight loss.
Having too much alcohol in the system can cause the body to bloat and retain water, making a person gain unhealthy weight.
And smoking messes with a persons’ metabolism, though some people react differently to it. Some will gain weight while smoking and lose it when they quite, while for other’s it’s the opposite.
It’s not a popular fact, but cutting out alcohol and smoking can help you begin to shed the pounds.
While kicking these habits may be extremely difficult, once it’s done, many have reported they feel like new people. It will take the body some time to adjust, but it’s worth it in the end.
#11. Genes
Though it seems like a cope out, some people are genetically more likely to lose weight faster than others.
Some people have a high metabolism rate, so they lose weight faster, while some have low metabolism, so they find it harder to lose weight.
Even though fighting ones genetic disposition can be like running upstream, it is still very possible.
With a very careful diet and a strict exercise routine, people who have this disposition can keep the weight off and live very healthy lives.
#12. Lack of Exercise
Yes, I said it, exercise is still important for weight loss, especially if you are really struggling. You don’t have to go overboard.
Taking a 30-minutes walk 3 days a week can go a long way in helping you drop the excess pounds. Just choose any exercise that you like and stick with it – you can dance the pound off, swim, or whatever works for YOU!
Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight – Final Thoughts!
You can see that there are several factors that can prevent you from losing weight. Identifying the ones that relate to you and finding ways to resolve them will surely help you achieve your weight loss goal.
However, it is important to remember that weight loss is NOT a sprint. It can take some time to see the result you want, so you should be patient with yourself.
Don’t compare yourself to other people. It’s YOUR weight loss journey
ad no one else’s. So enjoy the journey and the result will come.
