If you listen to ads for diet programs or diet pills, you would think losing weight is super easy. But if you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know that while it may be simple (burn more calories than you consume), it may not be easy.
According to the UNC School of Medicine, “25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day.” And yet, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that “Nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) are overweight, more than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity, and about 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) have severe obesity.”
So, I think it’s safe to say that losing weight isn’t easy for many people. But why? Read on if you feel you’re doing everything right but still can’t lose weight.
- Your Mindset - Many roadblocks to weight loss are psychological. You need to be in the right frame of mind to lose weight and keep it off.
- Too Focused on Dieting – This may sound silly, but if you have a “diet mentality,” research shows you may actually gain more weight over time. Instead, it’s better to focus on adopting lifelong healthy habits.
- Unrealistic Goals – Permanent weight loss takes time, and losing too much too quickly isn’t healthy. So having a goal of losing 20 pounds by your cousin’s wedding in a month is unrealistic. Experts recommend a goal of no more than one to two pounds a week.
- Not Lifting Weights - One of the most important things you can do when losing weight is to do some form of resistance training, such as lifting weights. This helps maintain muscle mass, often burned with body fat if you don’t exercise.
- Not Doing Aerobic Exercise – Aerobic exercise offers many benefits, including helping you lose weight and keep it off.
- Lack of Patience – Losing weight and keeping it off takes time, which can be frustrating. Furthermore, chances are good that you will fail along the way, so it’s crucial to cut yourself slack, not give up, and get back on the saddle again.
- Stress – Your body may store more fat when you’re stressed. Plus, stress can cause you to eat high-calorie, high-fat foods.
- Gender – Research suggests that it’s easier for men to lose weight more quickly, but women seem more successful with long-term weight loss.
- Metabolism – Some bodies are better at burning calories than others.
- Age – Research shows that our metabolisms begin to decline by .7% a year after age 60; therefore, by the time you’re in your nineties, you need 26% fewer calories each day than someone in midlife.
- Your Thyroid – An underactive thyroid can cause weight gain, and sometimes an overactive thyroid makes you feel hungrier, which can also cause weight gain.
- Medications – Certain medications for allergies, birth control, depression, high blood pressure, and more can make losing weight more challenging.
- Not Enough Sleep – Sleep is crucial to good health, and poor sleep is one of the most significant risk factors for obesity.
- Sugary Drinks - According to the CDC, “Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks [soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, etc.] are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet.” Statistareports that in 2018, Americans drank, on average, 38.87 gallons of soft drinks.
- Skipping Breakfast – Not eating breakfast can make you hungrier later, causing you to snack or overeat at lunch. A high-fiber, high-protein breakfast helps you feel full longer.
- Eating Too Little – If you eat too little, you may end up burning calories more slowly.
- A Food Addiction – “The effects of certain foods on the brain make it hard for some people to avoid them,” according to some research. “Food addiction operates similarly to other addictions, which explains why some people can’t control themselves around certain foods — no matter how hard they try.”
- Too Much Alcohol – The CDC reports, “On a given day, consumers of alcoholic beverages obtain approximately 16% of their total caloric intake from alcoholic beverages. This represents the same contribution to overall calories as the 16% from added sugars among U.S. children. “
- Not Enough Water – Drinking water has been shown to help suppress your appetite and boost the number of calories you burn. Experts recommend drinking about 15.5 cups of fluids daily for men and 11.5 cups daily for women.
- Too Many Carbohydrates – Some studies have found that a low-carb diet can cause two to three times more weight loss than a low-fat diet.
- Not Eating Whole Foods – Whole foods help regulate your appetite.
- Not Enough Protein – Protein can boost metabolism and reduce cravings
GO4IT Health Products and Weight Loss
If you’re struggling to lose weight, one or more of the above may be the problem. But knowing the problem is the first step to overcoming it, and GO4IT Health products can help!
Our products are not like other meal replacement supplements. They are formulated by health experts and medical professionals, especially for weight loss and weight management.
Always consult your physician before beginning any diet.