Are you struggling to lose weight? You have tried many diets, cutting out calories and exercising everyday but you are still not reaching your weight loss goals. There are many underlying issues that can prevent us from losing weight that you may not have considered. Maintaining a healthy weight is vital for preventing chronic disease and improved longevity for women. Nutrition plays an important part, but so does lifestyle choices.

Why can’t I lose those few extra kilos?

You are not drinking enough water

The average person needs around 8 cups or 2 litres of water per day for our body to function properly. Many of us do not even come close to this. Water is important for rehydrating the body, aiding with digestion and flushing out toxins and is vital for regulating our weight. Herbal teas and bone broth will also contribute to your daily water intake as well as fruits and veggies with a high water content such as cucumbers and watermelon - so don't be afraid to include plenty of these in your diet.

You are not getting enough sleep

Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night is vital for our overall health. Our body repairs itself while we are sleeping, our brain resets and retain information, and our liver is clearing out those toxins ready for the next day. Sleep is a regular way for our body to ‘reset’ itself. If you do not get enough sleep, then you are more likely to reach for sugar and caffeine the next day to keep you awake and energised to keep up with your busy demands.

Your hormones are out of balance

Women’s hormones change as we cycle through life. From puberty to our baby producing years pre and post pregnancy and then to menopause our hormones are always shifting. Hormonal conditions such as PCOS and thyroid conditions can contribute to unexplained weight gain if left undiagnosed or untreated. It is advised that you have regular blood work done 3-6 months after having a baby and every 6 months thereafter to identify any hormonal imbalances.

You are not doing the right type of exercise

Exercise does not need to be a form of torture! It should be an activity that you enjoy and gets your body moving. Try for a variety of activities such as walking, running, dancing, weight training, yoga or pilates Mix it up a little. Sometimes when we push ourselves, we are only putting extra stress on our body, which will do the complete opposite of what we want to achieve with our weight. The body does not need any extra stress put on it

You have a lot of stress around food

Many women place an unnecessary amount of stress on themselves over what they should or shouldn’t be eating as well as how much they should be eating. This is a really unhealthy habit to get into. Restricting certain foods or calories may work in the short term, but they are not sustainable in the long term and can lead to uncontrollable cravings or binge eating. One way to reduce stress around food is to shift your mindset from ‘I want to lose weight to ‘I want to nourish my body with the nutrients it needs’ When we put our focus on eating foods that make us feel great, it reduces the pressure to lose weight ( which will happen)

Can you resonate with any of these? Check back next week for part 2.

If you are ready to find the root cause of your weight gain and would like 1 on 1 support with me, contact me for a free initial health history consultation