Weight Loss: Why You’re Not Getting the Results You Want (And What to do About it)

If losing weight was as easy as gaining it, there’d be a lot more fit people in the world. Unfortunately, as most adults find out, the process of shedding excess pounds isn’t as simple as it sounds. Lots of people are motivated to try for days, weeks, and even months at a time, but when they don’t get the results they want in the timeframe they believe it should happen – they give up. The truth is, there’s a lot more to losing weight than eating salads and going to the gym every day. Figuring out what factors are playing a role in your efforts is the first step towards making positive change.

Here’s a look at some of the most common reasons you might not be losing weight like you’d want and ways to fix it:

You’ve Reached a Plateau

You changed up your diet and have dedicated yourself to working out more and it shows. You’ve trimmed down a bit, you feel more confident, but you’re not quite where you want to be. You keep to your routines but after a few months don’t see any more change. This is a sign that your body has reached a plateau. In other words, it has become used to your exercise routine and calorie intake.

What to do: Time to switch things up. If you want to lose more weight, adjust your calorie intake now that you’re a smaller size. You will also need to vary your workouts. Instead of just walking, try swimming, weight training, or some other form of physical activity you enjoy.

You’ve Got Stubborn Fat

As you know, the body has a normal process for breaking down the foods for nutrients and storing fat for energy. There are certain factors that can slow this process down causing you to accumulate excess fat in areas you’re not to fond of. It could be the result of too much stress, age, low thyroid hormones, lack of sleep, and more.

What to do: Talking with your doctor for a thyroid check is ideal to rule out medical problems. You can also begin reducing stress and getting regular sleep.  Another way to get rid of stubborn fat is to consider a Coolsculpting treatment. This is a process in which the fat cells in problem areas are frozen. The fat cells then die off and your body slims down.

You’re Not Informed Enough

There is no one size fits all method for losing weight. For some individuals, it’s a matter of reducing their junk food intake and walking daily. For others, it might be reducing stress and working with your doctor to change medications. If you’ve been sort of haphazardly trying things hoping it will help you to lose weight with little to no result, it could essentially mean that you’re not informed enough about what your body needs.

What to do: Get educated on your body. Talk with your doctor, a nutritionist, and maybe even a health coach about your goals. Review health history, medications, lifestyle, diet choices, and your exercise routine to determine what’s working and what isn’t. Then, create a new plan designed to work best for you.

You may have thought that losing weight would be as simple as putting down the sweets, increasing the salads, and being more active, but there’s a lot more to it. If you’ve been trying to shed some pounds but aren’t seeing the results you’d like, perhaps you should dig a bit deeper to find the root cause. Whether you’ve reached a plateau, have some stubborn fat, or simply need more information on how to best care for your body, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile.