There are no shortcuts to weight loss. All healthy diets will take some time and would require you to be physically active. Unfortunately, many people tend to choose the easy way and opt for unhealthy options such as slimming pills and reducing food intake.
The foundation to achieve an ideal and healthy weight isn’t about quickly changing your eating habits or making unreasonable dietary changes. In general, being fit involves a holistic approach that includes healthy eating, diet, and exercise. It will also help if you know how to balance your calorie consumption and calorie use for better results.
Maintaining an Ideal Weight
When a person starts his journey to maintain an ideal weight, his body would naturally fight back. In the beginning, you might be able to lose a significant amount of weight without much effort. But as weeks go by, the weight loss could slow down or stop completely.
On the other hand, some people are trying to gain weight due to extreme thinness. At some point, they will gain weight, but it might not last for long, and they might stop gaining altogether. Because of this, they lose hope and give up even though they are just at the beginning of the process.
It would probably be confusing for you. But don’t worry, all you need to do is find out why it’s happening and seek professional help if needed. Here are some reasons you’re not reaching your weight goals:
You’re Not Keeping Track of Your Meals
Awareness plays a vital role in achieving your desired weight. Many people are unaware of how the foods they eat affect their weight. And due to this, they find it challenging to stay on track and achieve the healthy body they’ve always wanted. Research shows that keeping track of your meals has a significant impact on how much you lose and gain. People who keep a food diary tend to succeed more than those who don’t. However, a food diary can have harmful side effects for people with eating disorders.
Not Seeking Help for Eating Disorders
If you’re well aware that you have an eating disorder, it would be best to visit a specialist. There are many treatment options for eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia, pica, and binge eating. These treatments will encourage you to lead a healthier lifestyle and help you achieve your weight goals.
You Don’t Balance Your Diet
Diet isn’t just about eating less. It’s about ensuring that your foods have all the essential nutrients you need. Essential nutrients include minerals, protein, vitamins, fats, and carbohydrates. It’s important to have complete nutrients to make sure that you stay healthy while you’re on a weight loss journey.
Lack of Physical Activity
One of the most common mistakes that people make is not exercising. If you want to reach an ideal weight, exercise plays a crucial role to keep your body fit and strong in the process. Always remember that fitness isn’t just about losing or gaining weight, it is also about strengthening your muscles.
Excessive Sugar Intake
Sugary foods and drinks are hard to resist. And sometimes, you forget your weight goals when you receive a cup of ice cream or a bottle of soda. If you are trying to lose weight, avoid sugar as much as possible. Even healthy beverages contain a significant amount of sugar, it would be wiser to opt for water instead of flavored drinks.
Bad Habits
Too much alcohol and smoking hinder you from healthy living. Alcohol causes your body to gain weight by stopping the body to burn fat and making you feel hungry all the time. On the contrary, smoking increases your metabolism causing you to lose energy quickly. If you are trying to gain weight, stop smoking and leave the old habit behind.
Lack of Sleep
A substantial amount of sleep is essential for your physical and mental health as well as your weight. According to studies, poor sleep is one of the leading causes of obesity. In fact, children and adults with poor sleep have an 89% risk of developing obesity.
Underlying Medical Health Conditions
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to stay committed to losing weight, things don’t go your way. In cases like this, it would be best to consider that you’re most likely suffering from a medical condition. Some conditions that block weight loss include sleep apnea and hypothyroidism. Visit your doctor right away to get the best treatments.
Overall, weight loss and weight gain need commitment and utmost patience. Remember that you will not get instant results. You might even need to wait for several months or years before you achieve your weight goals. If things are starting to get out of hand, you can always seek professional advice so your efforts won’t be wasted.
