3 Reasons You May Not Be Losing Weight When Eating Less and Exercising More

It might seem like a good idea to eat less and exercise more if you want to lose weight. However, one expert warns that it might not be such a great tactic for long-term fat loss – especially if you have a certain health condition. Emi Hosoda, MD (@doctor.emi) is a hormone expert, social media influencer, and weight loss warrior who lost 100 pounds herself.

She specializes in using science “to help you lose weight and age in reverse.” In a new TikTok she explains why eating less and exercising more isn’t always a good idea. Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, also weighs in.

She Struggled to Lose Weight for Years by Eating Less and Exercising More

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“As a doctor who lost a hundred pounds after years of struggling with eating hardly anything and pushing myself to exercise beyond my capacity, these are three reasons why eating less and exercising more will not work for you,” she says in the clip.

RELATED: 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

You Might Have Thyroid Disease

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“Number one, if you have undiagnosed thyroid disease like I did, I had autoimmune thyroid disease that was changing the way my thyroid worked,” she says. “But every time my labs were checked, it was never caught because why? It's never checked for.”

RDN Explains

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“Your thyroid significantly impacts your metabolism which impacts calories burned and weight,” says Collingwood. “You need to ask your doctor to check the TSH level (thyroid stimulating hormone) with a blood test ideally every year or if you start to have symptoms (unintentional weight gain or loss, unusual fatigue, hair falling out, and more).”

You Might Have Leaky Gut

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“Number two, if you have intestinal permeability issues that are increasing your inflammation,” she says, noting that “leaky gut” is “real.” She adds that “there are studies about it, including those of the microbiome.”

RELATED: 7 Ways to Reduce Inflammation in Your Body

RDN Explains

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“Yes, leaky gut can be common and can impact weight and intestinal functioning,” says Collingwood. “Symptoms can be loose stool, bloating, nausea, indigestion, abdominal pain, and more.” You can get gut tests like this one from Tiny Health and put in the code TARA for $20 off.

You Might Have Insulin Resistance

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“Number three, if you have untreated insulin resistance that is increasing your cravings and dropping your blood sugar every time you try to restrict your calories,” Dr. Emi says.

RDN Explains

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“You can purchase a continuous glucose monitor to watch your glucose levels for a few weeks with a company like Nutrisense,” says Collingwood. You can also have your doctor test you.

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What to Do

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“If you have these things going on, you need these looked into and you need them treated, and not all the treatments need to be medication. There's many, many natural and lifestyle ways to approach these things,” says Dr. Emi.

Collingwood agrees. “Of course check with your doctor for any blood testing for any of these tests, but a lot of testing you can purchase out of pocket now, but it is best to get a physician or registered dietitian to assist in interpreting the results and discussing lifestyle modification,” she says. “If thyroid is off the only solution is to get on prescription medication with a physician. For gut tests and glucose/insulin levels a registered dietitian can assist greatly in the right diet for those conditions.”

💪🔥Body Booster: If you have been doing everything right and still can’t lose weight, talk to your doctor. You might have an underlying health condition.

Are you having trouble losing weight? Your body might be storing fat, and you don’t even know it. Ann B Schulte is a fat loss coach who works with women over 40 in hopes of “empowering them “to live their most intentional, healthiest & inspired life!” In a recent post she reveals the top three signs that your body is storing fat instead of burning it.

Your Body Is Storing Fat

She starts off by pointing out that everyone’s body is storing fat. “Your body is storing fat! It’s just science,” she writes. “⁣We spend all this time trying to do the right thing- the things we have been taught to be true. But actually, many times, those are the things that sabotage us.” Here are the signs your body is storing fat and what you can do about it. ⁣⁣

Sign 1: You Are Eating Less But Can’t Lose Weight

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The first sign is that you are eating less and less, and you can’t lose weight. “You might even be gaining,” she says. What can you do about it? Eat the “adequate amount of food in the right ratios to spike your metabolism⁣⁣⁣,” she recommends.

Sign 2: You Haven’t Made Any Changes But Are Gaining Weight

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The next sign? “You have changed nothing in the way you eat or workout, and suddenly you are gaining weight,” she writes. “Hormones are a thing as you are getting older. You need to address hormone health and give your body proper nutrition that supports your hormones so they can thrive.”

RELATED:I'm a Fitness Expert: Here's What Really Burns More Fat After 40, Walking or HIIT

Sign 3: You Are Doing Intense Workouts, But Your Belly Fat Won’t Budge

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The last sign? You are “consistently doing HIIT or intense cardio classes, and your belly fat won’t go away⁣⁣⁣,” she says. Surprisingly, the solution is to do less HIIT cardio. “Too much HIIT causes high cortisol, which causes belly fat. You need muscle-building strength workouts so your body burns fat in its sleep⁣⁣⁣,” she says.

Weight Loss Differs in Your 40s and 50s

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Ann regularly educates her followers about how weight loss differs as you get older. In another post she explains it “really comes down to 3 simple things.” She adds that it “doesn’t have to be hard” to “lose weight and build muscle in this phase of life.”

Your Body Needs More Food

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Her first tip? Eat more, not less. “Stop undereating and start eating UP to your body’s needs! Severe calorie restriction is out, people. And just not effective long term. Learning how to fuel your body specifically to its needs will spike your metabolism for you - yes, even in your 40s or 50s,” she says.

Rethink Your Approach to Exercise

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Next, rethink your approach to exercise. “The intense calorie burn workouts are killing you and your cortisol levels, especially as you get older. I know it feels productive, but really, ask yourself if you are getting where you want to go by doing them. Getting strategic and thoughtful about your workouts and lifting heavy weights will give you the body composition changes you have been chasing,” she says.

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Don’t Avoid Carbs

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Also, make sure to eat carbs. “If you really want to ramp up fat burn and get that metabolism firing, eat carbs. But choose the right ones and eat them strategically. It will give you energy, your body will love you, and you’ll feel like yourself again,” she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.