People want to lose weight for different reasons. Being overweight does not imply you are not healthy but it increases your risk of developing health issues such as sleep apnoea,heart disease ,gallstones and diabetes and linked to infertility. It’s assumed that only people who are overweight want to lose weight. Some people are very conscious of how they look and it impacts their self-confidence leading to depression and so view weight loss as a positive way to look and feel good. Others pursue weight loss to try and fit into their dress for special occasions such as birthday photo shoot, engagement or wedding whiles others do so after pregnancy to get back in shape.
Why is losing weight so hard? Why is is keeping off a few kilos harder? Why do others loose and easily gain?
The principle of weight gain is easy: Energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Being overweight or obese is a result of complex interactions among genetic, behavourial and environmental factors. Whiles we can’t fight with our genes, the use of behavior and lifestyle modification is based on wealth of evidence that people become overweight as a result of modifiable behaviours or habits.
Weight loss is what I call a “patience project”. Many people have unrealistic expectations of what they can achieve with healthy diet and exercise. They often have a picture of a fitness model, body builder or someone they aspire to look like in mind and often compare their progress with them. If you have lost some weight and you feel good about yourself and the scale wouldn’t budge any further ,maybe it’s time to accept your body the way it.
There are some medical conditions that can drive weight gain and make it harder for you to lose weight. These include hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), sleep apnoea and diabetes. Certain medications can make weight loss harder, or even cause weight gain. If you feel this applies to you, speak to your doctor about it for further evaluation.
Beers, some wines and sugary alcoholic beverages are very high in calories; keeping in mind alcohol itself is about 7 calories per gram which is high. Studies on alcohol and weight have never been conclusive and generally doctors advocate for moderate drinking. If you are trying to lose weight, you might want to pay attention to that.
Good sleep is very important for your physical and mental health as well as your weight. Poor or quality sleep is a potent risk factor for obesity and could hinder your weight loss progress.
You might not be losing weight because you are binge eating (even on healthy foods). This means you are eating large amounts of food, often more than the body needs. Some people binge on junk food, whiles others are binge on healthy foods such as nuts, nut butters, dark chocolate, cheese etc. Even if something is healthy, its calories count and this can explain why your scale won’t budge.
You might not be losing weight because well, you are still drinking sugar!!! Sugary beverages are very fattening as they easily get broken down by body and the brain does not compensate for the calories in them by making you eat less of other foods. This applies to some “healthier” beverages and fruit juices.
You may not be losing weight because you are too focused on dieting. Instead of approaching weight loss from a dieting mindset, let your goal be to become a happier and healthier person.
Habits are hard to change; eating habits more difficult as it entails making choices every day, several times a day. You have to stay focused and stay motivated and keep reminding yourself why u need weight loss. More importantly, LOVE YOURSELF!!
