Lack of physical activity is one of the main causes of overweight and obesity. People who suffer from sleep disorders have a slow metabolism, which affects hunger hormones, and tend to eat more.

If you’re eating healthy and exercising regularly, but you’re not losing weight, it might be for one reason or another. Below are possible reasons why you are having trouble losing weight.

You don’t get enough sleep

People who have trouble sleeping or sleep less than 5 hours a night have a slower metabolism, and this affects hunger hormones such as leptin and ghrelin.

Leptin is a hormone that tells the brain when to stop eating, while ghrelin stimulates hunger. People who sleep poorly have low levels of leptin and high levels of ghrelin. This means they tend to eat more and gain more weight.

To solve this problem, it is recommended to get used to at least 8 hours of daily rest.

You are consuming hidden sugar

Hidden sugar can be present even where you least expect it; without even realizing it, you are consuming a significant amount of sugar with energy bars, cereals, sports drinks, dips, etc.

To avoid this, it is very important to read labels carefully before buying foods and avoid those, that contain refined sugar.

You control calories, not nutrients

When we want to lose weight, we have to eat small portions and reduce the number of calories. However, some people are so obsessed with it that they forget about very important nutrients that should be included in the diet.

In this case, the most important thing to think about is the quality of the foods you eat, not just the calories. Make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Sedentary lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes of obesity and overweight. You may often make the excuse that you don’t have time to exercise, but in reality, you are not interested in it. It is recommended to do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, such as walking, running, jogging, cycling, etc.

You don’t spend enough time cooking

The combination of a passive lifestyle with poor nutrition is one of the worst enemies of ideal weight. Due to lack of time, most prefer to consume fast food or junk food.

The solution is to devote more time each week to preparing healthy food, in particular, preparing a proper breakfast.

Hormonal diseases

Sometimes it happens that you have tried everything to lose weight, but instead you only gain it. In this case, it is recommended to consult a doctor, because weight gain can be the result of hormonal disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, and insulin resistance.

You don’t get enough essential fatty acids

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in fish.

For years, weight loss meal plans and diets have made fat our enemy. Today, many low-fat foods promise more nutrients, but despite this, rates of obesity and excess weight gain continue to rise.

A mistake you can make when it comes to losing weight is to lack healthy fats in your diet, such as the fatty acids found in flaxseed oil, fish oil, nuts, and seeds. These types of fats help break down bad fats in the body while keeping you feeling full.

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In fact, obesity continues to climb as much as 30% per year, which is both an astonishing and very concerning rate. What steps Americans intend to take moving forward to better manage diet, fitness, and overall health however seems up in the air.

The Dilemma

While some argue it’s marketing of fast-food or other unhealthy foods that contribute heavily to obesity in America, others argue genetics, and many argue a lack of overall education pertaining to healthy dieting and fitness.

Unfortunately, hiring a personal trainer or even seeing a nutritionist, without medical insurance, can be both very costly, yet “essential” steps towards bettering your overall health.

However, recent research and studies conducted found that considering the continuously astronomical rise in internet usage and information sharing, that it’s becoming more and more practical to achieve comparable information, advice, support, and even specific information best suited for an individual via the Internet.

Unfortunately, relying on the Internet for health advice of course has its drawbacks. For one, many people whom are not licensed medical professionals may portray themselves to be such. In other instances, individuals may be sharing advice that is simply unsafe or unhealthy—whether or not it’s intentional is a completely different topic.

Finding Support

In lieu of the complexities of relying on health and wellness information on the internet, specifically pertaining to weight loss, one must also consider the likelihood that such advice is not tailored directly to his or her needs.

With this in mind, individuals interested in living a healthier life are encouraged of course to review government, scholarly researched and referenced dietary and nutrition advice, or other guidelines via the Internet. In addition to this, sources and live discussion boards such as systems which are in place by reputable companies, that for example include door delivery of meal plans, may be the next safest best.

Understanding Your Body and Science

Unfortunately, many professionals, websites, and even public information found in books still heavily rely on the arguably ‘archaic’ system of applying the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator to determine their current and desired weight when considering weight loss. While the BMI calculator has its advantages, it cannot be expected to be accurate for every individual—in other words it’s typically off by several ‘points’ or lbs.

With this in mind, it’s best to focus on losing unhealthy weight around the waist, your bottom, and other unruly places that are likely unnatural or unhealthy. People that are “obese” by definition or are overweight that don’t take weight loss seriously are at risk to multiple forms of serious illnesses and medical complications, ranging from Diabetes all the way up to heart failure.

While weight loss is no easy ‘feat’ for anyone, weight gain is also a common dilemma.

In general, many Americans just aren’t feeding themselves the daily essential nutrients and vitamins that they need, and seemingly have disregarded the elementary rules and importance of the Food Pyramid.

It’s your life. Live a healthier you.

Image credit: Anton Hlushchenko

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