5 Common Reasons Why You Aren’t Losing Weight

It seems that you have been doing everything right. Eating nutritious meals and working out regularly, but still that scale won’t budge.

Sometimes it’s hard to decipher what’s really going on, so we have compiled 5 common reasons why you may not be losing weight. Read on to see if any of these may be the culprit.

You are eating more than you think

In our busy lives, sometimes it’s really hard to keep track of everything we put in our mouths. Did you mindlessly grab a cookie in the office break room? Or enjoy an afternoon iced chai latte? These calories add up and what may seem like one harmless treat can wreak havoc on your weight loss. It’s okay to indulge in goodies once in a while, but make sure you are keeping track in a food diary to ensure you are really accounting for all those extras. You may be surprised by how much you are actually eating.

You aren’t lifting weights

One of the most important things you can do when it comes to weight loss is build lean muscle mass, and the way to do that is through resistance training, such as lifting weights. Lean muscle helps your body burn more calories at rest and improves your performance in your workouts leading to greater fat loss.

You aren’t eating the right kinds of foods

Not all calories are created equal and different foods can have different effects on your body. A diet made up of lean proteins, whole grains and fruits and veggies is much better for you than grab and go processed foods, even if they have the same calorie content. Things like added sugar, salt and carbohydrates can have negative effects on your system such as bloat and water retention which can impact the numbers on the scale.

You aren’t sleeping well

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important factors for your physical and mental wellbeing, as well as your weight. Studies show poor sleep is one of the biggest risk factors for obesity. Adults have a 55% chance of being obese if they don’t get enough shut eye, and children have a whopping 89% greater risk of becoming obese without proper sleep.

You are drinking too much alcohol

There’s nothing like coming home after a long day’s work and having a glass of wine to relax and unwind, but that evening down time may come at a price. If you are imbibing too often, chances are losing weight is an uphill battle for you. Beer, wine and sugary alcoholic drinks are very high in calories, about 7 calories per gram. So, enjoy your wine time in moderation, which for women is classified as up to one drink per day.

A healthy body isn’t only about the scale. Pay less attention to the number and more attention to how you feel. As long as you are happy, confident, eat well and stay active, the scale should not dictate how we view ourselves.

Question: What are some of the struggles you have had with weight loss and how did you overcome them?