5 Truths About Why You Aren't Losing Weight
Are you dieting and exercising but can't seem to lose weight? There could be an easy fix to your problem, according to an expert. Gillian is a Women's Nutrition Coach who boasts over 64,100 followers on Instagram alone, whose specialty is "helping you ditch diets & transform your body through macros, movement & mindset," she explains in her bio. In a recent post she gets real about weight loss, revealing "Five truths about why you're not losing weight."
1. Your Diet Is TOO Restrictive
The first reason she offers? "Your calories are set too low causing you to be too RESTRICTIVE," Gilian says. "Pulling back too much can and most likely will backfire, causing you to get frustrated and throw in the towel bc it feels too hard or follow your plan most days but totally go off the rails on the weekend because you just can't handle it anymore."
She Recommends a Sustainable Calorie Deficit
She says that her goal with her clients "is always a sustainable calorie deficit," and keeping an eye on the "big picture."
2. You're Eating Back Calories Burned
The second reason you aren't losing weight might be that you're eating back calories "BURNED," she writes. "Slippery slope! Our watches are highly inaccurate if you're using it to track calories burned and then thinking you can use that amount to eat more," she writes.
Make Sure to Track the Correct Way
Her advice to remedy this? "If you're tracking in MFP make sure the setting is toggled OFF to add back in exercise calories," she suggests.
RELATED: 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week
3. You Aren't Getting Detailed Enough with Your Tracking
You also might not be tracking everything you are eating. If "you're not including BLTs (bites, licks, tastes)," you could be consuming a lot more calories than you think. "These add up SO FAST and can easily send you several hundred calories over your plan. (Speaking from experience 🙋♀️)" she writes.
4. You Aren't Counting Calories on the Weekends
"Not counting weekends," can also add calories. "All days count, girls! Meals out count, alcohol counts … it all counts. This doesn't mean no social life, it means have a strategy! Master your weekend and 10x your results 🔥" she writes.
RELATED: 8 Essential Proteins That Boost Weight Loss Efforts
5. You Aren't Getting Enough Sleep or Hydrating
And finally, another reason why you might not be losing weight? "You're not prioritizing two other key components – SLEEP & HYDRATION," she writes. What are the health benefits of sleep? According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z's is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss. As for hydration, the Mayo Clinic maintains that it is important for a variety of reasons. Water helps get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues. It can also ward off hunger.
💪🔥Body Booster: If you are dieting and exercising but aren't losing weight, you might need to take a closer look at your health habits.
