It's not always your fault!

There are still many among us who are unable to achieve their ideal weight goals. You can cry, stamp your feet and throw tantrums even but the weight isn’t going to listen. That’s because though weight loss is achievable, it can also be quite complicated.

In fact, while you embrace the idea of shedding weight, it is extremely important to understand factors that hinder this process. Haven’t you been through a phase where you’ve tried to eat right, get in exercise, drowned in cups of green tea in a desperate attempt to drop some weight? You struggled to do all the right things but the results you’re looking for still elude you? That’s because somewhere along the line of all the things you think you’re doing right, you are most definitely doing something wrong.

As they say you need to learn to walk before you run. So more important than the HOW is the WHY am I not losing weight. And there are various factors to help answer that question.

Yo-yo diets- following stringent programmes and plans which are short lived for a week or 10 days provide quick unsustainable weight loss. It’s instant gratification and we all know that never lasts. So one could manage six-eight kilos a week but speedy weight loss like this can get addictive. Sadly, what you don’t realise is that a repetitive cycle eventually slows the metabolism and you will no longer have the patience to do it right, to do it slowly, methodically and sustainably.
People with a history of such yo-yo diets find it extremely difficult to lose weight.

Hormonal issues — puberty, pregnancy, menopause and somewhere in between unexpected PCOD is the tragedy of every woman’s life. Just when you think you’re done with one troublesome phase another one creeps up. These issues need to be addressed and taken into account when you’re trying to lose weight as they can certainly be one of the reasons why you’ve been piling on the pounds or unable to get rid of them. Men you are not completely exempt from hormones either.

Medical problems —there are a number of medical issues that can affect weight, such as hypothyroidism, stress, inflammation, etc. If you feel that despite all your efforts you are unable to lose weight, it would be advisable to consult with your doctor just to make sure there aren’t any medical problems. They can seriously hamper all your weight reducing efforts, in addition to the medical problems themselves.

Muscle gain — for both men and women, resistance training is excellent. It’s great for toning, bone health and even metabolism. However while gaining muscle mass, weight loss is difficult to achieve because muscle is heavier than fat.

As I tell all my clients, losing weight takes an effort but it’s not unachievable. Be patient and eventually you will get the results you are looking for.