Why Can’t You Shift That Weight Off?

Do you remember the first time you decided to lose weight? Maybe you even made it a New Year’s resolution? Whether it was this year, last year, or even before that, there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to get rid of the extra weight you’ve put on throughout the years. It’s no lack of motivation, but somehow you still can’t manage to make it happen, and, consequently, you blame yourself every day a little bit more. Maybe you can’t even look at yourself in the mirror without feeling a pang of guilt. What led you to let yourself go so far, you’re not quite sure. But you can’t help to get angry at yourself and life in general for taking your perfect bikini figure away.  But the time is not for guilt and frustration. If you want to lose weight, you need to understand what’s stopping you from achieving your goal. Why can’t you shift the weight off?

 

Because you fear healthy lifestyle requirements

Do you know the first rule of losing weight and keeping it off? Lifestyle, and more precisely, a healthy lifestyle. You can’t get slim (or slimmer) just by depriving your body of a few hundreds of calories, as it’s not a long-term strategy. Instead, you need to clear the bad habits out of your lifestyle. The main issue with changing your lifestyle is that nobody is truly ready to commit to a radical, cold-turkey transformation. You might want to cut out the bad out of your day, but if you’re a regular smoker, for example, stopping abruptly will result in intense cravings and weight gain. Similarly, greasy and high-sugar food is bad for you, but if it’s been your main diet for years, it’s normal to struggle to let go of it. So take things slowly in the right direction instead of looking for the quick and harmful solution. There are products such as Phentermine over the counter which you can consider.

 

Because you keep trying new diets

If you tend to try every diet you find online or in magazines for a fortnight and give up before it shows results, you are probably putting your body through a lot of efforts without giving it time to adjust to your new diet. Let’s be honest: it takes a few weeks to see the results of a change of diet, especially as your body will need to get rid of the toxins accumulated through unhealthy eating habits. Additionally, not all diets are effectively targeting weight loss. The Cambridge diet, for instance, comes with a high-calorie amount and plenty of carbs per shake, compared to other shake diets. Researching your options might demand a little more efforts, but it’s best to know what you’re signing up for. Ultimately, if you want to follow a new diet, you should start your weight loss journey with an appointment with a professional nutritionist. You can learn more about this as we discuss further.

 

Because you can’t find the time

We get it. Everybody works long hours, and if you add the commuting time, by the end of the day, you feel like collapsing on the sofa with a glass of wine and your favourite TV show on. It’s not that you’re especially averse to exercising, but you’re struggling to find the time to go to the gym. The uncomfortable truth is that you can always find the time to sneak exercise into a busy schedule, assuming you can think outside the box. The first step is to schedule your workout like you would schedule any other appointment. You’d be surprised to see that you can make time if you put it on your calendar. Besides what’s stopping you from making exercise a part of your day-to-day activities? You could cycle to work or take a midday walk.

 

Because now isn’t the right time for a diet

One in six Britons suffers from what can only be referred to as an early midlife crisis. In fact, the mid-thirty crisis hits workers who find themselves disappointed by their career and struggling to cope with the pressure of a hectic workplace. While the consensus is that this crisis of the 35 is self-inflicted by short-term decisions at a professional level, there is no denying that mid-thirty is an awkward age for Millennials. A lot of them are still looking for a serious relationship. They are also strangers to the comfort of homeownership and a family. A period of anxiety, depression and self-doubt begins. To put it in simple terms, it’s not the ideal time to go on a diet. You need to get your priorities in order. First, look after yourself and your life choices. Only then can you be mentally ready for the challenges of dieting.

 

 

Because you’re trying to punish yourself

How do you feel about your body, or even yourself? Most dieters who fail to reach their goals start their journey for the wrong reasons. Their weight loss is triggered by self-hatred and disgust, instead of the desire to improve themselves. The first rule of losing weight is that it’s not a punishment. It’s a self-improvement journey. Consequently, you need to learn to love yourself unconditionally if you want to help your body and your mind reach their goals. Be honest with yourself. Face your inner demons – insecurity, anxiety, etc. –  and embrace your flaws with your eyes wide open.

 

It’s not your fault; it’s a health problem

Did you know that you may not be responsible for your weight gain? In fact, there are some medical conditions that might lead to putting on weight, despite your best efforts. If you tend to feel sluggish, depressed and often cold, your thyroid might not be producing enough hormones to regulate your metabolism. An underactive thyroid can happen at any age, even though it’s most common in older women. So it might be worth getting it testing by your GP, as it’s easy to treat with a daily hormone-replacement tablet. If you take steroids as part of a treatment against asthma or arthritis, its regular consumption might have led to an increase in appetite. In short, be attentive to the signs and book a medical appointment if you’ve got any doubt about your health.

 

Hopefully, this gives you now a few ideas to tackle the stubborn weight and achieve your fitness goals.

 

*This is a collaboration post