CAUSES FOR NOT LOSING WEIGHT EVEN WITH DIET AND EXERCISE

A common complaint among many who go on a diet is that they are not losing weight. Why is this so? There are many reasons why a person may not lose weight even though they may be following their diet strictly plus following it up with exercise.

Some of those reasons could be:

1. Not noticing the changes: For the first few weeks, the change may be very slight so that is why it might not be noticeable. Also sometimes it depends on how much water is retained in the body. This could be due to the hormones as well. In addition, if exercise is being done side by side with dieting, then there might be muscle gain. So body fat might be lost but muscle gain is there.

2. No track of eating: It’s always better to have a track of the different foods eaten during the day. So having a food diary will reveal what and how many times food is being eaten.

3. Inadequate protein: Eating protein rich foods will reduce hunger pangs and a desire for snacking. Also a high protein diet will help in preventing metabolic slowdown.

4. Too many calories: This is important as many people do not have an idea about how much calorie intake is required and how much are they actually taking in. So check the calories table before eating. Also it’s important to have a low-carb diet for effective weight loss.

5. Processed Foods: Sometimes some processed food are sold as healthy foods. This may not help in losing weight. So avoid such foods. Also beverages containing sugar should be avoided. Certain sugary fruit juices too come under the banned category.

6. Inadequate water drinking: Drinking water increases the calorie burn rate. Also drinking water before meals reduces the intake of calories.

7. Binge eating: Some go on a binge eating spree thereby amassing calories in one day what was lost in a week full of dieting.

8. Lifting weights: It’s important to do proper exercise such as lifting weights. This helps in maintaining muscle mass and makes the body toned.

9. Cardio exercises: Activities such as jogging, swimming and cycling increase the heart rate. They are the best exercise for burning belly fat.

10. Inadequate sleep: Poor sleep causes weight gains as per a report. This could hinder weight loss. So a good quality sleep is required.

11. Medical condition: Some existing medical conditions may prevent the weight loss such as Hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, PCOS etc. So better to check with a doctor.

Another point is having unrealistic expectations. Weight loss takes time and many give up mid-way. It is important to understand that it is a slow process and patience is needed before changes can be noticed.

So as an end note, rather than giving up, focus on looking after the body by maintaining a healthy diet to have a fitter and healthy body. When this is done, automatically weight loss will follow as a side effect naturally. So don’t give up mid-way.