6 Reasons why you aren’t losing weight

You watch your diet, work out regularly and walk 10,000 steps a day. But you still can’t lose weight despite your diet and exercise regime.

Lots of little things could be responsible for this, many of which you would never guess. Here are six surprising reasons that work against your weight loss.

1. You drink too much
2. You overeat because you have worked out
3. You eat in front of the TV
4. You sleep too little
5. You are stressed
6. You don’t switch up your training

REASON 1: YOU DRINK TOO MUCH

…and we’re not talking about water. Fruit juices, soft drinks and smoothies – these beverages often contain large quantities of fructose and should not be used to quench your thirst.

The amount of calories in alcohol is frequently underestimated. 1 g of alcohol contains almost as many calories as 1 g of fat (9 calories per 1 g). The consumption of high-quality fats is essential for your body and keeps you feeling full. Alcohol, on the other hand, only provides you with empty calories.

REASON 2: YOU OVEREAT AFTER YOUR WORKOUT

You have just completed your workout torched a tonne of calories, now you feel the need to reward yourself with food! We often eat more calories after a workout than we actually need.

DON’T PIG OUT, eat normally.

REASON 3: YOU EAT IN FRONT OF THE TV

Sit down for dinner with your family at the table instead of eating alone in front of the TV. If you are distracted while you’re eating, you’ll eat more.

The reason is that you don’t notice when you start to get full, so you consume more calories. Make sure to eat mindfully – without distractions – and concentrate on chewing your food thoroughly, and stop when you are 80% full not when you feel like you’re about to explode.

REASON 4: YOU SLEEP TOO LITTLE

Did you know that too little sleep promotes weight gain?

If you sleep less than seven hours a night, this can increase the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. This, in turn, will ramp up your cravings for pizza, burgers and fries, and you will feel sluggish.

Therefore, make sure to get plenty of sleep if you want to lose weight in a healthy way.

REASON 5: YOU ARE STRESSED

Stress effects your hormones and your weight. If you don’t learn to relax at work and in your private life, this can lead to hunger pangs.

The craving for sugar and simple carbohydrates increases and your diet goals are quickly tossed out the window. So, what can you do about it?

Look for different ways to relieve stress and boost your metabolism. Strength training, yoga, meditation, a bubble bath or a relaxing evening with friends can help bring some peace to your day.

REASON 6: YOU DON’T SWITCH UP YOUR TRAINING

Our bodies adapt very easily, switching up your training is imperative. If you have been doing the same program for the past 6 months don’t expect to see changes.

If you are strength training, progressive overload is imperative to change your body composition. Following a program that is tailored to your goals and Changing your training program every 4-5 weeks will help you achieve greater changes in body composition.