A question that is asked by many is this…why aren’t I losing weight when I am eating healthy and exercising?
This can be very discouraging. It seems like you are doing everything right, yet the pounds aren’t dropping. Well there are some important things to consider.
The first is that it could be your body is gaining muscle. This is especially true if you have been doing a lot of resistance (strength) training.
Another potential reason is that while you may not be losing pounds, you could be losing inches. This is why it’s always a good idea to not only keep track of your weight but your inches.
Some of the key areas of the body that should be measured include the neck, chest, upper arms, middle, hips, thighs and calves. Keep track of your measurements and check them at least once-a-month.
Another reason for not losing weight is that you may be eating right and you may be exercising but it may not be enough, especially if you aren’t physically active when not exercising. For instance, those with desk jobs may spend so many hours on their bottoms that the only real exercise they are getting is the three or four 30 minute workouts each week. It’s just not enough.
Or if you tend to be more of a couch potato, you should move away (literally) from a sedentary lifestyle. Take time to enjoy other physical activities when you aren’t exercising. This could include taking a daily walk, working in the garden, playing ball with your kids and other enjoyable ways of moving about.
Another possibility for not losing weight is that you really aren’t eating as healthy as you think you are. “Diet” foods, low fat choices…it all sounds good but it may not really be good for you. Be sure to implement a lot of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.
It could be that there is too much stress in your life. Many people underestimate the physical impact that it can have, in addition to the emotional. Stress produces cortisol which stores fat. You have to address those areas in your life that are causing you stress.
Finally, you may not be losing weight because you just haven’t given it enough time. We don’t gain weight in a day and we won’t lose it in a day. It is oftentimes something we have allowed to happen over the course of time. So we have to be patient, persevere and not give up.
Related Articles:
Measure Your Inches Not Your Weight
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