Possible reasons weight loss is not working

edited from Medical News Today 29 March 2019, written by Aaron Kandola

Our bodies require a certain number of calories to function. Any excess calories will be converted to fat, increasing overall weight. The body can only lose weight when it is burning more calories than it takes in.

Are you making these common mistakes?

1. RELYING ON EXERCISE WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE DIET – exercise is an effective way to burn calories, but to experience any significant weight loss, a person needs to combine exercise with consuming fewer calories. Research suggests that without sufficient changes to the diet, exercise alone is unlikely to lead to substantial weight loss for most people.
2. FOLLOWING A FAD DIET – many fad diets are based on no scientific evidence, & they can be counterproductive for weight loss. Most of these diets are hard to maintain & most people will regain any weight loss shortly after stopping the diet. The most effective & healthful diets have significant variety & are balanced.
3. ENOUGH EXERCISE – A study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests at least 225 to 420 minutes of physical activity per week for effective weight loss. The Australian government recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most or all days of the week.
4. SUGARY DRINKS – consuming too many sugary drinks can prevent weight loss. Calories from these drinks do not satisfy hunger & research suggests they could play a role in obesity, type 2 diabetes & heart disease.
5. SLEEP – poor quality or insufficient sleep may affect weight loss. Lack of sleep can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate hunger, so can stress.
6. ALCOHOL – Alcohol is a high-calorie drink. Drinking four beers in an evening can increase you daily calorie intake by 612 calories.

There are no real shortcuts to loosing weight, it requires hard work and patience to see results.

The key to losing weight is to maintain a calorie deficit through healthful dieting, a mixture of aerobic & anaerobic exercise, & a good sleep pattern.