Have you been doing all the right things, but the weight just won’t come off? It is super frustrating when you take action to lose those unwanted extra pounds and nothing seems to be happening. It can be tempting to give up on exercise and your healthy eating plan, and believe that it’s all in the genes – and there’s nothing you can do. But before you ditch your new regime and resign yourself to being overweight, have a read why those scales could be stubbornly stuck at the same number…
Are you getting enough shut-eye? People who don’t get enough sleep are much more likely to put on weight, or have trouble shedding excess pounds. This is because being sleep deprived can disrupt the regulation of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress in the body. When this happens, your blood sugar increases and you’re much more likely to feel hungry and find yourself reaching for that biscuit tin. Make sure you get at least eight hours every night to ensure that your dieting and exercising doesn’t go to waste.
Are you physically healthy? If you’re struggling to get down to a healthy weight, your difficulties could be due to an undiagnosed medical condition. Problems with your thyroid and conditions like polycystic ovaries can cause you to pack on those stubborn pounds. You can read about medical problems that affect your weight on this page. If you’re in any doubt, make an appointment with your doctor to get a comprehensive check-up and any treatment you might need.
Do you need help? Many of us try to get fit and healthy on our own, believing that we have to do it alone. Thankfully, there is an abundance of ways that you can get help with losing weight. For example, orlistat is a prescription medication, prescribed to help lose weight – and could be the key to your success. Ask your doctor for advice on how best to slim down, and talk to friends and family about their favorite tried and tested techniques.
Are you consuming too much sugar? If you’ve cut out your favorite sweets and chocolates, it’s easy to assume that sugar isn’t the problem. However, it can be found lurking in the most surprising of sources. For example, many ready meals are loaded up with sugar to make them taste good, and drinks like wine can contain 1.25 grams of sugar in a small glass. Are you enjoying salads as part of your diet? Your salad dressing may be full of the white stuff – so read the label before you douse your leaves in it. Ready-made sauces, like those we use on our pasta, can be packed with sugar – so cut them out and learn how to make your own. You’ll find a great basic tomato sauce recipe here.
Do you skip meals? It’s an easy mistake to make – thinking that you’ll lose weight faster if you cut out breakfast or lunch. However, this could actually cause you to gain weight – as your body will go into starvation mode and do everything it can to hold on to fat to preserve your life. Skipping meals also means that you are much more likely to want to overeat later in the day, believing that you have ‘earned’ your treats – so make sure that you have regular, balanced combinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Do you use exercise as an excuse? It’s easy to fool yourself into thinking that because you’ve worked your butt off in the gym, it’s ok to have that doughnut, cheeseburger or bar of chocolate. However, a punishing workout does not negate the need to watch what you’re eating. If you’re consuming more calories than you’re burning, you will gain weight. If you consume as many calories as you burn, your weight will stay the same. Eat a little less and keep up the exercise to get the results that you’re looking for.
1 comment:
This planner is so cute! It is just the perfect size, and the colours are so minimal and calming. Planners have always been an asset to life. They can only bring benefit.
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