Diet Drama: Here’s Why You Aren’t Losing Weight
It’s no secret that losing weight is challenging for even the most tenacious of people. Weight loss is an ongoing process that requires a lot of determination, mental strength, and positive reaffirming to remain motivated and focused on the task at hand.
Sadly, many people don’t achieve their weight loss goals for various reasons. Are you about to embark on a new diet regime but are worried about things going wrong?
Please take a look at the following five common reasons why some folks struggle to lose weight with their diets:
1. Unrealistic Expectations
One fact to remember is that weight loss is a gradual process. You won’t lose a significant level of weight quickly, so it’s better to set smaller, more realistic weight milestones to keep yourself motivated.
According to the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you should aim to lose up to two pounds weekly. It’s a simple enough target to meet, as long as you stick to your diet and avoid any culinary temptations as best you can.
2. Failing To Prepare Most Meals At Home
The trouble with buying meals, either in restaurants or pre-packaged in supermarkets, is that you often deal with high levels of ingredients that can make losing weight a big issue.
For example, you don’t have any control over how much salt, sugar, and oils get used in your meals. Thankfully, you can combat those issues by preparing most or even all your meals at home.
From a healthy taco salad for lunch to three-course meals, preparing everything you eat from scratch at home will help you stay true to your diet.
3. Consuming Too Many Processed Foods
Preparing and cooking your meals from scratch is an excellent way to keep your diet on track. However, one thing that could derail your efforts is using a lot of processed food ingredients.
Examples of processed foods include:
- Cheese;
- Burgers;
- Deli meats;
- Sauces and dressings.
Try to limit your use of processed foods and instead use homemade versions without high levels of salt and sugar.
4. Not Combining Dieting With Exercises
Healthy eating habits are a fantastic way to help your body lose weight and feel healthier, but you should also incorporate dieting with an exercise regime.
The exercises you do should get tailored to your individual needs. For example, don’t aim to spend several hours per week at the gym if you struggle to walk far due to a medical condition.
5. Having A Poor Quality Of Sleep
Lastly, sleep is essential for helping your body purge itself of toxins and your mind feeling fresh and alert when you wake up.
Sadly, some people don’t get enough restful sleep each night, and that can cause them to overeat as their bodies demand more fuel to simply function!
Aim for at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. If you keep waking up each night, address the reasons for the interruptions (artificial light flooding your bedroom, noises outside, anxiety, and so forth).
