Been on a strict diet and exercise regime, but not experiencing the results you want to see? 

We feel your struggle! The balance between health and ideal weight is elusive for many, and that’s why we wrote this list of tips to help make your balance super easy to achieve.

Keep reading to see if any of these simple, yet surprising, weight loss roadblocks exist in your routine!

Here’s Why You’re Not Losing Weight:

1. Not getting enough sleep

Poor sleep directly contributes to weight gain. Both quality and quantity of sleep are crucial for maintaining a healthy weight. Sleep affects both physical and mental well being. Lack of good quality sleep can also affect your choice of food, activity levels, mood swings and on a more severe level, even depression (1). When you don’t sleep well, you are prone to consuming more calories because interrupted sleep disturbs your appetite-regulating hormones (2).

2. Too much stress

Minor stress may spike your adrenaline, helping you perform better under pressure. But too much stress is a trigger for weight gain. When you are stressed out, it affects your appetite. But if anxiety persists for long, it makes you feel hungrier (3). The tendency to ‘feed’ emotions with ‘comfort eating’ increases. Stress also enhances the craving for sugar-loaded snacks that lead to weight gain. In addition, stress can even cause you to skip your workouts due to lack of energy, which would be unfortunate as exercise is an excellent response to anxiety. (4)(5).

3. Individual medical conditions

Sometimes, it really doesn’t matter what you do to lose weight, a medical condition could be holding you back. That’s why it’s always important to discuss your health, wellness and weight loss journey with your qualified healthcare provider. Conditions like insomnia, endocrine disorders, taking certain types of medications and unbalanced metabolism rates can all be reasons why you’re not losing weight. (6)

4. Slow metabolism

While family history isn’t the only reason you’re struggling with weight loss, it does play a significant role in whether or not you’re challenged by obesity (7)(8). So, check with your doctor (and your mom) to rule out stubborn genes, before you rule out your stubborn jeans.

5. Lack of cardio

At the end of the day, weight loss is about expending more energy than you take in. Cardio exercises are the best way to accomplish that. So, if you’re not losing weight as rapidly as you’d like, maybe up your cardio game! Cardio exercises amplify results if your goal is to lose excessive fat. In addition, strength training may build lean muscle – the best way to lose weight (9). Moreover, if you do strength training for at least an hour a week, it may help reduce the chances of heart attack or stroke by up to 70 percent (10).

These tips may help you overcome the plateau in your weight loss plans. Hit the gym to get back in shape but don’t ignore the minor potholes and roadblocks that are making your weight-loss journey less than smooth.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The statements and/ or product(s) described in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease, illness, or health condition. It is advisable to consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet or dietary supplement program.