Not being able to lose weight can be extremely frustrating, especially when you think you’re doing everything right. But, in reality, very few people understand how weight loss works.
Many myths are floating around about healthy eating, fitness, and how to lose weight, and some of these might be doing more harm than good.
You might also be making some subtle mistakes that end up ruining your efforts. Let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons why you can’t lose your stubborn fat.
You Think All Calories are Equal
Yes, if you burn more calories than you consume, you should eventually lose weight, but this might not be the type of weight loss that you want. If your diet consists mainly of carbs, even high-quality ones like fruits and whole grains, but you don’t add protein to the mix, you will end up losing muscle mass while keeping the fat.
You will get the dreaded “skinny-fat” look that no one wants.
This is why you need to focus not only on calories, but on the nutrients you take in as well. There’s one little secret about protein that many people don’t know. Protein actually needs more energy to be broken down and digested by the body than other nutrients.
It is estimated that around 30% of the calories you ingest in the form of protein will be burned in the digestive process, meaning that you can eat more without it contributing to your net calories at the end of the day.
Another reason why you should be adding more protein to your diet is that it will help you stay full for longer. It will also help rev up your metabolism as your body will be working more when digesting it. If your goal is to lose weight, about half of your diet should consist of protein.
You’re Skipping Breakfast
This is one of the most common mistakes people make. And when you think of the calories out, calories in concept, it makes sense. The problem is that your body may think that you are starving, and when it does, it will slow down its processes to preserve energy. Not only that, but you may end up getting hungrier during the day and compensate through bigger, unhealthier meals and unhealthy snacking.
If you don’t like eating in the morning or don’t know how to prepare a healthy breakfast, you should give meal replacement shakes a try. You have companies like Shake that Weight who make meal replacement shakes that are as delicious as they are convenient. They’re pretty affordable too and they will keep you full your whole morning. They have been specially formulated for weight loss, so you’ll get more than enough protein and all the nutrients that you need to burn fat fast.
You Don’t Take Probiotics
You may have heard about probiotics and how they can help boost your immune system among other things, but did you know that they can work wonders if you’re trying to lose weight? One study that was released in the Genes Journal found that people who took probiotics and incorporated habits that were beneficial to the microbiome were able to lose more fat than those who took a placebo.
This is why you should consider adding probiotics to your diet. You can use supplements or get them from fortified foods. Prebiotics are another thing you should be paying attention to. These are a type of fibre that the healthy bacteria in our gut feed on. Having plenty of prebiotics in your diet will allow these good bacteria to proliferate and overcome bad bacteria. They can be found mainly in fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
You’re Spending too Much Time on That Treadmill
One of the worst mistakes people make is concentrating way too much on cardio when they go to the gym. A lot of people think that spending hours on the treadmill is the best way to lose weight largely because of how awful, sweaty, and exhausted they feel after it.
In reality, you will get many more benefits from engaging in high-intensity strength training instead. You might not be huffing and puffing after a set of deadlifts, but believe us, they demand a lot of energy. Not only that, but focusing on strength training will increase your muscle mass. Muscle mass requires more energy to be maintained, which means that you will be burning more calories around the clock by increasing it.
If you’re going to do cardio, we suggest you try high-intensity interval training instead. It won’t leave you as exhausted and will boost your metabolism and will allow you to lose weight well after your session is over.
You’re Not Making Working Out Fun
Another reason why people don’t lose weight is that they only get their workouts at the gym. If you incorporate sports into your routine, you could get all the cardio that you need and it will never feel like a workout. This is why you should try practicing some type of sport. Team sports are usually the best because they allow you to get lost in the feeling of competition. But, if you prefer individual sports or don’t know enough people to participate in team sports with you, there are plenty of alternatives.
One of the best things you could do is get yourself a bike and do some cycling from time to time. Another great individual sport you can practice to lose weight is swimming. It is also a perfect activity to practice after a tough day of strength training and is great for people who have fragile joints and can’t engage in things like jogging.
You’re Driving Everywhere
Every time you go somewhere with your car or public transit, you’re wasting an opportunity to lose weight. Walking can help you lose more weight than you think, and it’s gentle on the body. So, if you’re going somewhere with your car, you should deliberately park it a few streets away from your destination and walk. You should also get off at an earlier stop if you’re taking the bus or the train. Consider getting into the habit of going for brisk walks from time to time. Not only will it help you lose weight but it will also give you mental clarity and help you sleep if you do it in the evenings.
You’re Snacking Wrong
Snacking can be a good thing when you’re trying to lose weight. If your snacks are low in protein and have all the nutrients that you need, they could actually help. The issue is when you snack on empty calories.
There is no reason to snack on things like crisps and sweets when there are so many healthy and delicious alternatives out there. Instead of eating shop bought crisps, you could learn how to make your own at home from sweet potatoes or plantains. If you like sweets, try to go for things like dried fruit instead. And, if you have a weakness for ice cream, know that you can always go for low-sugar frozen yoghurt instead.
These are all possible reasons why you can’t seem to be able to lose weight. We suggest that you take a long hard look at your diet and habits, see where you might be making mistakes, and make changes immediately.
