At a time when it seems everyone wants to offer you a solution for weight loss, why is it still a struggle to lose weight? Discover what underlying factors may be affecting you.
Losing weight can be difficult. Sometimes it feels like you’ve tried just about everything, only to continue to struggle with weight loss.
Maybe you have already tried diets and exercise regimens but still find yourself wondering: how do I lose weight?
If that sounds like you, keep reading. We’ll tell you all about the underlying factors of your weight that you may not know about.
When you address each of these underlying factors, your weight loss journey becomes much easier.
Underlying Factors of Your Weight
Let’s break down some of the lesser-known reasons that you may be struggling with weight loss. Some of these factors have little to do with your diet and exercise habits, which is why they are often neglected.
Metabolism
Your metabolism can have a significant impact on your ability to lose weight. Everyone’s metabolism is on the faster or slower side.
People with faster metabolisms tend to be able to eat more without gaining weight and vice versa. Your metabolism can shift throughout your life and may get slower as you get older, especially during major changes like menopause.
Most people have their fastest metabolism when they are in their late teens and early twenties, although everyone’s metabolism is slightly different.
Certain foods, exercises, medications, and lifestyle habits can speed up your metabolism and make it easier for you to lose weight.
Metabolism is not just your overall metabolic rate, but also how your body metabolizes certain foods. Your body may metabolically respond to certain foods and chemicals in your foods by directly depositing fat. (See “Specific Food Triggers” below.)
Genetics and Epigenetics
Weight trends run in families. Most people have a metabolism and body type that eventually becomes similar to that of their mother or father.
If most people in your family are overweight, you may have a genetically slower metabolism, and weight loss may be harder for you.
If most people in your family are overweight, don’t lose hope. It may take a little extra work and medical help, but there is no reason that you cannot overcome your genetics and lose weight anyway.
Specific Food Triggers
Certain foods can slow down your metabolism and cause bloating. If you are having trouble losing weight, consider getting testing done.
Your body cannot lose weight efficiently if it is battling inflammation from foods that disagree with you.
Eating an individualized diet that is tailored to your body chemistry can significantly aid your weight loss progress. For more advice about food triggers and specialized diets, you should talk to a weight loss expert.
Nutritional Deficiencies
While you’re getting tested for specific food triggers, you should also get bloodwork done to make sure that you are not missing out on any vital nutrients.
If your body lacks a crucial vitamin or mineral, it may be holding on to excess fat.
Your body naturally holds on to fat when it senses that you may not be getting enough food. Being deficient in a specific mineral or vitamin can trick your body into thinking you are starving.
Incorporating the necessary supplements into your daily routine can help your body run smoothly and burn fat.
Medications
Many medications cause weight gain and make it difficult to lose weight. Unfortunately, the prescribing doctors aren’t trained to know which medications cause difficulty losing weight. Many times, we see patients who have been told that a medication doesn’t cause weight gain, when in fact, it does. Schedule an appointment with our weight loss specialist to review your medications with you and find alternatives which do not cause weight gain.
Sleep Habits
Lack of sleep increases your appetite. When you experience sleep deficiency, the neurotransmitters that make you feel hungry are more active.
Additionally, sleep disturbances (eg. shift-work) can induce insulin-resistance, which can in turn cause stubborn belly fat.
When you get enough sleep, your body is more likely to run efficiently all around, and weight loss will be easier.
The Right (Or Wrong) Type of Exercise
Some types of exercise are more conducive to weight loss than others. If you do a lot of muscle-building exercises, you may actually gain weight.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with gaining muscle. However, if you are mostly looking for fat loss, you should focus on cardio and aerobic exercises.
How to Win the Struggle With Weight Loss
Let’s review a few easy changes that you can make to your routine. These tips can help you lose weight in an effective and enjoyable way.
Exercise For Fun
Sometimes, your biggest struggle with weight loss may be sticking to a routine. No one is going to stick to a routine that they dread.
When you design your exercise regimen, make sure you build it around activities you find enjoyable.
That way, you won’t have to worry about sticking with your routine. You’ll actually look forward to it every day!
Try Medication
Maybe you have reached the limit of weight loss that comes from diet and exercise. You’ve hit a plateau. In that case, a weight loss medication may be what you need. Studies have shown that, following the same diet and exercise routine, people who took a weight loss prescription lost 2-3 times as much weight!
However, it may not be clear when it is best to add a weight loss medication and you might not know which weight loss medication is the best fit for you. Be sure to consult a weight loss specialist for the best advice.
Personalize Your Diet
If you are having trouble finding a diet that works for you, you should seek out the help of a weight loss doctor. Your weight loss specialist can design a personalized diet for your weight loss needs.
Everyone’s body needs different types of foods. When you give your body all the nutrients it needs while avoiding foods that cause inflammation, your metabolism will improve, and you will lose weight more easily!
Get Help With Weight Loss Today
Life is too short to struggle with weight loss. If you feel like you need more weight loss options, contact our weight loss specialist today and start your journey.
Losing weight can improve your physical health, mental health, social life, and so much more. You deserve to feel healthy and fit, and look great too!
The best way to make lasting weight loss progress is to address the underlying factors of your weight gain. Start today and see results that will last a lifetime!