So you’ve been doing all the right things; eating the right food, burning out the right amount of calories by exercising, yet you don’t see your pounds shedding. Sounds familiar? If you’re struggling on your weight loss journey then there could be a strange possibility that one of these reasons could be the culprit behind your unsuccessful weight loss goals.
Sleeping too less
Every person requires a certain amount of time to sleep for their body to feel energized and rejuvenated again. Some can do with just 7 hours whereas some people require 8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep time. Research has shown that if you sleep too less, your body requires more carbohydrates and fat to function. This could lead you to consuming those extra calories!
Not handling stress well
Going through a particular stressful situation in life? Whether it’s financial crisis, family problems, busy schedule; this could be an underlying cause of why you’re unable to lose weight easily. Stress has been linked to weight gain for quite some time now and it’s because high levels of stress cause a hormone called cortisol to level up. This hormone increases a person’s appetite, drives binge eating and makes it easier for fat to accumulate in our bodies.
Overeating healthy foods
Eating healthy food is great! But healthy food doesn’t mean that it is empty of calories. Bananas, nuts, olive oil, dark chocolate are all super foods but you still need to watch out how much you eat all of this, too. These healthy foods may give you a variety of nutritional benefits but they also add up extra calories to your diet. Find out what portion size fits best in your diet!
Eating too less
Are you starving yourself thinking you will save yourself some calories? Uh-oh! You need to stop doing that immediately. This will only imbalance your metabolism. The feeling of extreme hunger will only make you eat more in the next meal you have. Eating too less of what your body requires doesn’t just mess up your weight loss plan but it also isn’t good for your overall health.
Eating while watching TV
Eating while working, watching TV or simply standing up can lead to mindless eating. Since your brain is involved in multiple activities, it is easy for you to lose track of the quantity of food that you eat. The best thing you can do is to take out time specially for eating or snacking without getting side tracked by other happenings!
Doing only cardio
Does your exercise routine mainly include cardio? If yes, this could be a reason why you’re not reaching your goals as much as you would expect. Cardio is an important exercise form, however, it is not the only road to losing weight. Pairing up cardio with some sort of body strengthening exercise or training gets your fat burning well and faster!
If you see yourself doing any of these mistakes, it’s time to correct yourself. Don’t lose hope, keep going the healthy way and you will soon have a “before” and “after” picture to flaunt!
Dr. Uzma Imran is a renowned Nutritionist and Dietitian based in Lahore. She specializes weight management and other chronic diseases such as diabetes and blood pressure. You can now ask a question online or book an appointment with her anywhere, anytime. To book an appointment with her click here