Many obstacles can stand in the way of a woman’s weight loss goals, and some of them may be obstacles that you haven’t even considered yet! Things like sleep deprivation and obesity can keep you from shedding those stubborn extra pounds, even if you’re doing everything else right. If you’re thinking to yourself, why am I not losing weight, here are some helpful things to think about when you want to adjust your weight loss plan.
Sleeping Too Little
Lack of sleep can be a huge factor preventing you from losing weight. It’s been scientifically proven that lack of sleep can lead to weight gain. Some studies suggest that women who only got 5 hours of sleep a night were much more likely to gain weight than women who got a solid 7 hours a night. Not getting enough sleep has negative effects on the body, which in turn affects weight loss. For one, when you’re tired, you may not feel like exercising and you could even feel hungrier than usual. Lack of sleep also affects the cortisol levels in your brain, which can also lead you to eat more during the day. Take steps to improve sleep, such as upgrading your mattress, staying away from your phone for an hour before bed, and creating a sleep sanctuary by eliminating light and lowering the temperature of your bedroom.
Drinking Too Much
Another reason why you might not be losing that weight is that you’re drinking a little too much. From beer to fancy cocktails, alcohol is full of empty calories. Often, we don’t take into considerations how many drinks we have or how those drinks add up. It’s quite possible that your glass of wine in the evening or the cocktails you have on the weekend are sabotaging your weight loss. If you feel as if you have a problem with consuming too much alcohol, then you might consider that it’s best to find a womens rehab center for alcohol addiction.
Not Exercising Right
The reason you’re not losing weight might be because you’re exercising and gaining muscles. As you exercise, your body builds lean muscle, which means that the number on your scale may not be going down. But that doesn’t mean you’re not losing fat! You’re just gaining muscles that have replaced fat.
Not every exercise is made equal. Some exercises will build muscles while other won’t. If you’re really looking to shed pounds, up your cardio game and increase your heartbeat. Cardio is a great way to decrease fat in your body. You should also think about incorporating resistance training to your exercise regime to help burn even more fat.
Medical Conditions
An important thing to be aware of if you’re not losing weight is that you might have an underlying medical condition. Thyroid problems, sleep apnea, and even Cushing’s syndrome can be preventing you from dropping those extra pounds. If you’re dieting and exercising the right way, be sure to talk your doctor about any other medical factors that could be affecting your weight loss.
There could be several unknown factors that are sabotaging your weight loss. If you’re not seeing results, you will want to take a close look at your sleeping, drinking, and exercise habits as well as any other medical conditions you may have.