Clearly, you want to lose weight. So, why do you find it so hard? Here are some of the things you might be getting wrong…
- You are not getting enough sleep: – Lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain. It can throw off the way your body makes the hormones that control your appetite and hunger.
- You are not hydrating well: – Water has no calories at all, so it satisfies your thirst without adding weight. Drinking water can help in boosting your metabolism and suppressing your appetite, thus making you feel fuller. And when you drink enough water, you may be less likely to grab sodas, juices, or coffee drinks packed with sugar.
- You are too stressed: – Stress and weight gain, or lack of weight loss, go hand in hand. Too much stress increases the production of cortisol. Not only does this increase your appetite, but it can also cause extra abdominal fat storage.
- You are sitting all day: – If you’re sitting all day, you’re not expending as much energy as you would if you were moving around and that in itself can contribute to not losing as much weight.
- You are taking the weekend off: – It’s not uncommon to find yourself staying focused and on track during the week, only to get a little too relaxed in your eating habits over the weekend. While an occasional break and treat are fine, consistently letting go on the weekend could be hurting your weight loss goals.
- You are drinking too much alcohol: – You don’t have to drink a lot for beer, wine and liquor to have an impact on your weight-loss efforts. Not only do drinks add carbohydrates and sugar to your daily intake, but drinking alcohol can be dehydrating as well. It can slow down the liver’s fat-burning abilities as well.
- You are eating less but still picking on unhealthy foods: – If you consume fewer calories than you expend, it’s definitely possible to lose about 10 percent of your total body weight through dieting alone. But if you want to lose more, you can’t just keep cutting calories. You have to change the type of food you eat. Focus more on the quality of food versus the quantity.
- You are not eating enough protein: – Protein is an important nutrient for losing weight. Eating protein can boost metabolism and make you automatically eat several hundred fewer calories per day. It can also drastically reduce cravings and desire for snacking. A high protein intake can also help in preventing metabolic slowdown which is a common side effect of losing weight. Additionally, it helps prevent weight regain.