In the spring, almost everyone is worried how they will look in last year's bikini or summer dress. It's the time of year to lose those extra pounds you put on over the winter.
You start working out on a regular basis, watching your calorie intake, and you even stopped eating late at night and as well as limiting your alcohol consumption. Yet somehow, in spite of your devoted efforts, you lost a mere fraction of the weight you were hoping to lose. What's going on?
Here are the top five reasons you are having a difficult time losing weight despite all your hard work and what you can do about it.
Everyone knows that in order to lose weight you must cut your caloric intake. But it's equally important to realize that the calories you are consuming on a daily basis need to come from whole foods, as opposed to over processed foods.
Are the majority of your calories coming from foods like lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, and pure water? Or do they come from processed foods that contain high amounts of refined sugar, preservatives and carbohydrates?
Your body knows the difference between healthy food and junk food. If you put junk in, you'll get junk out. Your body cannot run efficiently on garbage. So even if you are keeping your caloric count in check, make sure your giving your body what it needs in terms of healthy food.
Contrary to what this sounds like, it's true. The more food you eat, the more weight you will lose. Why? Because you will keep your metabolism burning hot all day long if you stay out of the hunger zone.
When you feel hungry, that's your body's way of telling you it needs food. If you don't feed it, it will "hang on" to fat as a reserve and thus, you cannot lose weight. Your metabolism slows down and so does your weight loss.
How many calories you need daily is relative to your weight, exercise level, and age. However, most people need an average of 1,200 calories a day in general.
Most people are successful at counting the calories in food. Although, many times there are even more calories hidden in the things we drink. Often times, people forget to consider this.
A glass of sweetened tea or a can of Pepsi both contain many calories. When dieting, you must account for these calories, because they add up rather quickly. People really get off track when they consume beer or any other kind of alcohol since they generally have more than one.
Ease up on the liquid calories by switching to water every other drink. Not only will this significantly cut your caloric intake, you will stay better hydrated and your liver will thank you too.
Stress is a key factor in gaining weight. In today's world, stress is more common than ever.
Most people don't realize that when you feel stress, the body generates an overabundance of a hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol is the body's fight-or-flight mechanism that boosts our fat reserves when we feel any kind of stress.
You may be giving your diet and exercise regimen 100% effort, but if you are stressed out over other issues, it will all be in vain. Slow down, re-examine your lifestyle, and address any stress-inducing issues first.
You are eating healthy and working out on a consistent basis, but are you getting enough adequate sleep?
A good night's rest is just as important as diet and exercise. Your body needs between 6 and 8 hours of restful, uninterrupted slumber each and every night.
Sleep deprivation works the same as being too stressed out; it triggers excess Cortisol too. So remember, if you are worried or tired, your body will do everything in its power to hold on to fat.
RELATED: 17 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marie_Sanchez
You start working out on a regular basis, watching your calorie intake, and you even stopped eating late at night and as well as limiting your alcohol consumption. Yet somehow, in spite of your devoted efforts, you lost a mere fraction of the weight you were hoping to lose. What's going on?
Here are the top five reasons you are having a difficult time losing weight despite all your hard work and what you can do about it.
1. What Kind Of Calories Are You Putting In Your Body?
Everyone knows that in order to lose weight you must cut your caloric intake. But it's equally important to realize that the calories you are consuming on a daily basis need to come from whole foods, as opposed to over processed foods.
Are the majority of your calories coming from foods like lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, and pure water? Or do they come from processed foods that contain high amounts of refined sugar, preservatives and carbohydrates?
Your body knows the difference between healthy food and junk food. If you put junk in, you'll get junk out. Your body cannot run efficiently on garbage. So even if you are keeping your caloric count in check, make sure your giving your body what it needs in terms of healthy food.
2. The More You Eat, The More You Lose
Contrary to what this sounds like, it's true. The more food you eat, the more weight you will lose. Why? Because you will keep your metabolism burning hot all day long if you stay out of the hunger zone.
When you feel hungry, that's your body's way of telling you it needs food. If you don't feed it, it will "hang on" to fat as a reserve and thus, you cannot lose weight. Your metabolism slows down and so does your weight loss.
How many calories you need daily is relative to your weight, exercise level, and age. However, most people need an average of 1,200 calories a day in general.
3. Beverages Contain More Calories Than You Think
Most people are successful at counting the calories in food. Although, many times there are even more calories hidden in the things we drink. Often times, people forget to consider this.
A glass of sweetened tea or a can of Pepsi both contain many calories. When dieting, you must account for these calories, because they add up rather quickly. People really get off track when they consume beer or any other kind of alcohol since they generally have more than one.
Ease up on the liquid calories by switching to water every other drink. Not only will this significantly cut your caloric intake, you will stay better hydrated and your liver will thank you too.
4. Stress Can Pack On The Pounds
Stress is a key factor in gaining weight. In today's world, stress is more common than ever.
Most people don't realize that when you feel stress, the body generates an overabundance of a hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol is the body's fight-or-flight mechanism that boosts our fat reserves when we feel any kind of stress.
You may be giving your diet and exercise regimen 100% effort, but if you are stressed out over other issues, it will all be in vain. Slow down, re-examine your lifestyle, and address any stress-inducing issues first.
5. Sleep Is Essential To Losing Weight
You are eating healthy and working out on a consistent basis, but are you getting enough adequate sleep?
A good night's rest is just as important as diet and exercise. Your body needs between 6 and 8 hours of restful, uninterrupted slumber each and every night.
Sleep deprivation works the same as being too stressed out; it triggers excess Cortisol too. So remember, if you are worried or tired, your body will do everything in its power to hold on to fat.
RELATED: 17 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marie_Sanchez
