Losing weight is on the minds of many people as they head into a New Year. After all, weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions.
But wanting to lose weight and actually doing it isn’t as simple as eating fewer calories than you burn.
While there’s no question that exercising and eating right are important for your fitness and weight-loss goals, you may be hindering your weight loss in other ways.
Let’s take a look at six of those ways.
1. YOUR GOALS ARE UNREALISTIC
There’s nothing wrong with thinking big. But if your weight-loss goals aren’t realistic, you’re liable to get discouraged when it seems like you’re never getting closer to attaining that goal.
Starting with smaller goals, such as losting 3-4 pounds a month, instead of aiming for the weight you were in college or high school won’t set you up for disappointment.
2. YOU’RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
The perils of burning the midnight oil are many, including its negative impact on your weight-loss plans. For one, you can feel too tired to exercise. But you’re also likely to consume more food when you’re fatigued.
3. EATING WHEN YOU AREN’T HUNGRY
Most of us have been told about the importance of starting our day with a good breakfast, but the truth is that some people just aren’t hungry in the morning. And forcing yourself to eat when you’re not hungry can make the pounds pile up. Let your metabolism be your guide.
4. YOU’RE NOT EATING ENOUGH
A common misconception is that drastically cutting back on your eating will accelerate the weight-loss process. But when you go on a starvation diet, your body will shut down its weight-loss mechanism. Consuming the proper amounts of nutrient-packed food is the healthier alternative.
Make sure that you have enough proteins, carbs, and healthy fats in each meal to switch your body into a fat-burning mode.
5. YOU’RE NOT WATCHING PORTIONS
Eating non-processed whole food is good for your health and will help you to lose weight. That doesn’t mean that you can indulge yourself and over-eat those types of food, however.
You don’t have to become obsessed with counting calories, but you should have a rough idea of how many calories you’re consuming daily.
6. YOUR MEDICATION OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS
If you’re doing everything right but still not losing weight, check with your doctor to see if any of your medications lead to weight gain. He or she may be able to prescribe an alternative medication that doesn’t hinder weight loss. On the other hand, you may be suffering from an undiagnosed condition, such as a thyroid disorder.
The Amarillo Town Club understands the importance of feeling your best. Ready to meet your fitness goals? Become a part of our family!
