Top 5 Reasons Why You’re Struggling to Lose Weight

Reasons for Struggling to Lose Weight

reasons for Struggling to Lose Weight

Top 5 Reasons Why You’re Struggling to Lose Weight

If you feel as though you are struggling to lose weight and you’re just not sure why, then it’s time to reevaluate. Something that you’re doing or not doing isn’t working for you. It may be something obvious, like needing more exercise; but in many instances, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

If you feel as though you are doing all the right things yet still find yourself having a hard time, then you may need to look at the big picture. For those who are struggling to lose weight, it may come down to one of a few simple and easily fixed situations.

5 Reasons Why You’re Struggling to Lose Weight

1.     You’re depriving yourself in some way

This is often the most surprising reason to those who are struggling to lose weight without results. When you deprive yourself in any way, such as through extreme calorie-cutting or avoiding certain foods altogether, your body may wrongly assume that you are going into starvation mode. The result is that you may end up gaining weight rather than losing it, for your body is trying to protect you and hold onto everything you eat. Deprivation in any form will never work, so start fueling your body!

2.     You’re not incorporating enough variety into your routine

This is easy enough to fix but important to identify. You may not be mixing it up enough at the gym, so your body is getting used to the same exact exercises that it experiences every single workout. You may be eating the same thing each day, and that too will result in you hitting a plateau. Variety is so important for losing weight and keeping it off, so mix it up a bit!

3.     You’re trying to use some shortsighted, flawed method

If you find that you are struggling to lose weight, it may be that you are using the wrong approach. So many diets, fads, and trends out there are only ever intended to help you to lose a few pounds initially. If you are trying to lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off, then it’s not about a fad diet but, rather, all about changing to a healthy lifestyle that will support you moving forward.

4.     You’re going through a terrible cycle and hurting yourself in the process

If you skip meals and then binge on eating, you are hurting yourself. You might think that cutting calories and then eating whatever you want will work, but it will cause you to hit a plateau or gain weight in the end. You want to fuel your body by eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, for the key is in balance.

5.     You’re not doing enough of the right activities to support the right lifestyle

If you are struggling to lose weight, then you may need to take a look at your overall lifestyle. You may not be getting enough sleep, or you may not be managing your stress properly. Perhaps you are not getting enough of the right types of exercise. In some way, you may not be taking good care of yourself. You need an essentially healthy lifestyle to achieve a healthy weight!

If You’re Struggling to Lose Weight, You Might Have a Medical Condition

Another reason why you may have a lot of trouble losing weight: there might be a medical condition that your body is dealing with, and that you might not know about. For this reason, it is wise to talk to your doctor if you are struggling to lose weight, and if you can’t seem to come up with a solution that will get you to shed more pounds more easily.

What are some of the conditions that might lead to weight loss struggles? Well, according to Hackensack Meridian Health, the following conditions might be reason why you aren’t reaching your weight loss goals like you thought you would:

  • Thyroid disorder – If you are having trouble slimming down, talk to your doctor about testing to check if you have a problem with your thyroid. If your thyroid is not functioning as optimally as it should, and it is underactive, one of the symptoms can be weight gain. Also, take note if you are experiencing any other symptoms that might indicate there is a problem with thyroid function, such as hair loss, fatigue, constipation, and skin changes. Getting this condition under control might be what you need to start making progress on your weight loss journey again.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome – Also known as PCOS, this is an imbalance of hormones that can lead to irregular periods and other symptoms, such as fluctuations in weight, acne, and excessive body and facial hair. If you are a woman who is experiencing these symptoms, talk to your doctor. Because this condition might raise the risk of metabolic syndrome, your weight might also be affected, but your doctor can discuss solutions that can help you regain control of your health and weight.
  • Diabetes – If you are insulin resistant, you might find it harder to shed pounds. And, if you are taking insulin, you might have noticed that your weight loss struggles became more obvious after you started taking it. You might have even noticed some weight gain. The best way to figure this all out would be to talk to your doctor to find a solution that will help you manage your diabetes and lose weight.

Other Reasons You Might Be Struggling to Lose Weight

In addition to all of the reasons you might be struggling to lose weight that are discussed above, there are some other things to consider as you work on figuring out how you can improve your weight loss strategy.

You’re Skipping the First Meal of the Day, and Eating Late at Night

First off, eating breakfast is important. So, if you are struggling to slim down, but you tend to skip breakfast, it might be time to change up your routine. Starting your day with a healthy, low-calorie meal will help keep you feeling full for longer, especially if you enjoy a meal that is high in protein and fiber. This means you can delay having lunch until a bit later, and you will also be able to more easily avoid snacking too much before lunch.

In addition to looking at what you eat to start your day, you should also take a look at what you are eating at the end of the day, and whether or not your late-night snacking is taking a toll on your ability to hit your target weight. It’s best to have dinner a minimum of three hours before bed, and to avoid snacking after that. Why is it a bad idea to eat food late at night, when it’s getting close to your bedtime? Well, the meal might end up increasing your blood sugar, insulin, and body temperature, and that can make it more challenging to burn through fat.

You’re Taking a Medication That Gets in the Way of Weight Loss

We mentioned above that certain medical conditions might make it harder to shed pounds efficiently. Beyond that, if you have been diagnosed with a health problem, and you are taking medications to treat and control it, that medicine might also be making it harder to slim down.

Medications for a range of conditions, from high blood pressure and depression, to allergies and diabetes, might be getting in your way while working hard to lose weight. Even birth control might be inhibiting you from getting rid of the extra weight that you are carrying.

Definitely talk to your doctor to learn more about the potential side effects of any medications that you are taking, and to find out if they might be one of the reasons you might be struggling to lose weight. Your doctor can discuss alternative options that may work better for you.

Struggling to Lose Weight? Talk to Your Doctor!

Even if you have a better understanding of why you might be struggling to lose weight, it is a good idea to have a chat with your physician about the various difficulties that you have been experiencing. That way, you can discuss things like diet, thermogenics, exercise routines, weight loss products and diet pills, and more. The key might be to simply refine your strategy to take it to the next level so you can start seeing results again.

The main thing is that you shouldn’t feel ashamed at all to discuss the fact that you are struggling to lose weight, as a lot of people encounter these issues, and a medical professional or nutritionist can help you overcome common hurdles.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *