Why can’t I lose weight? This is one of the MAIN questions people come to me with. They have spent time putting in effort, & their results are seemingly non-existent. They become fed up with a lack of progress, and they decide they need help.
I actually LOVE working to help people get to the bottom of their lack of progress & plateau issues. The question of “Why can’t I lose weight?” might be a simple one, but there are a variety of different factors that can make remedying the problem, not so simple. Here is a list of some of the factors you might need to address if you feel like your weight loss is stalling.
Why Can’t I lose weight? Well, Let’s get to the bottom of it.
- PROBLEM: You aren’t accurate with your food intake/caloric output. It has been proven that most people tend to underestimate their caloric intake & overestimate their energy output. THIS study here shows just that. The problem with that? If you think you’re eating less than you really are, and you aren’t burning as many calories as you assume. Your caloric deficit isn’t going to be what you think it is.
- SOLUTION: If are really wondering, Why can’t I lose weight? Put some effort into correctly tracking your caloric intake. Measure out your portions, enter your foods into a free tracking app like My Fitness Pal. You might be surprised to find that you are eating more than you think you are. Tracking your foods accurately can help to make the process more of a science. If you need help figuring where you macros should be look here to figure out how to calculate your macros.
- PROBLEM: You aren’t exercising in a way that is beneficial to your progress. I always am sad when I see people wandering around the gym, spending a lot of time, doing ineffective/inefficient things.
- SOLUTION: Make your workouts worth your while! I am a big fan of HIIT workouts for weight loss, fat loss, & increasing lean muscle mass. If you are really serious about making some physical improvements, seek the help of a professional. Have a program created for you that is tailored to YOUR goals, needs, & schedule. It can make ALL the difference.
- SOLUTION: Make your workouts worth your while! I am a big fan of HIIT workouts for weight loss, fat loss, & increasing lean muscle mass. If you are really serious about making some physical improvements, seek the help of a professional. Have a program created for you that is tailored to YOUR goals, needs, & schedule. It can make ALL the difference.
- PROBLEM: You are eating too much sugar. I know this sounds extremely simple, but it is something I see ALL THE TIME. I have done a bunch of posts on sugar you can read them HERE. Not only is sugar addictive, but when eaten in abundance it can be a HUGE road block to those who want to see physical progress. If you’re wondering, “Why I can’t lose weight,” while sneaking hot tamales out of your purse…this might be your issue. 😉
- SOLUTION: Track your sugar intake. Try to get your grams of sugar for the day between 30-40 grams. Strive to have those grams coming from natural sources and not processed sources.
- SOLUTION: Track your sugar intake. Try to get your grams of sugar for the day between 30-40 grams. Strive to have those grams coming from natural sources and not processed sources.
- PROBLEM: You haven’t been consistent enough with your “on days.” This is the real issue behind a LOT of peoples plateaus. You eat well Monday- Thursday, & then you forget what a vegetable is from Friday-Sunday. The sad truth is that letting yourself go buck wild on those weekend days can undo ALL of your progress, and keep you right where you’re at. THAT is frustrating.
- SOLUTION: Consistency. I say this every day, probably a hundred times a day. But, it’s because it is the answer. I believe in the 80/20 rule. If you eat well 80 percent of the time, you can usually get away with 20 percent being not as perfect. However, if you are not consistently eating well, YOU CAN’T EXPECT TO SEE RESULTS. I’m sorry, but it’s the harsh truth. Instead of letting your whole weekend be a “free day,” give yourself a free evening meal with some dessert. Then get right back on track. (Continue reading on next page.)
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- SOLUTION: Consistency. I say this every day, probably a hundred times a day. But, it’s because it is the answer. I believe in the 80/20 rule. If you eat well 80 percent of the time, you can usually get away with 20 percent being not as perfect. However, if you are not consistently eating well, YOU CAN’T EXPECT TO SEE RESULTS. I’m sorry, but it’s the harsh truth. Instead of letting your whole weekend be a “free day,” give yourself a free evening meal with some dessert. Then get right back on track. (Continue reading on next page.)