You’ve reached a healthy balance:
It may be that your body has reached its “perfect” weight. Reaching this level is generally pretty easy but it won’t get you to ‘ultimate’ body your after. Women, more so than man, tend to achieve a healthier balance at higher body fat levels. Breaking through these plateaus can be hard enough, but plateaus set by the body itself can be even harder. To dip below your ‘healthy’ bodyfat percentage can affect your hormones and most importantly your fertility rate.
You lack the willpower:
All these healthy habits depend on how badly you want it! If you don’t want it enough you’re not going to get it! Everyone has a different inspiration or motivation that can help at those times that lack willpower. If you normally have willpower but are struggling at the moment, take note, it might actually be an indicator of your body’s needs to recover! In these cases overtraining is a bigger issue than lack of will to train.
You’re full of excuses:
Everyone has them at some stage… Some people have them every day and others have them every hour. If your find yourself have mini arguments with yourself and start lying to yourself about what you are eating and doing you’re probably full of excuses.
You’re not getting enough sleep:
Low levels of sleep can cause the release of cortisol, the old fat-storing hormone. The biggest spike in (fat-burning, anabolic) growth hormone plasma levels happens when you’re at rest sleeping! Studies have shown that interrupted sleep patterns are linked to weight gain. Get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
You’re under too much stress:
The stress response system responds to stimuli and nothing else. Emotional stress, physical stress, financial stress, relationship stress – your body does not differentiate between sources of stress. They all cause the body to produce cortisol, the stress hormone which leads to break down of muscle, alters insulin resistance, and promotes the storage of fat. Today, our body responds to the constant ringing of the phone, the flood of emails, the stress caused by those you work with and all stresses that come with living in the 21st century. Take a step back from your life and take stock of your stress levels – they may be holding you back.
You think you’re eating healthy, but aren’t:
Do you spend time down the aisles at the supermarket rather than around the perimeter? Low-carb or not, you want to eat real food. Eating the packaged and processed food you’re just feeding an addiction and consuming empty calories – sound familiar? Disregard the labels and look inside for what you know to be true: this crap isn’t food, and you shouldn’t be eating it. It’s about way more than just low-carb.
Blake Worrall-Thompson is one of Australia’s leading health professionals. He is the director and owner of Raw Solutions, Australia’s leading health and fitness organisation. Blake is also the author of the book 'Switched On’. For more information visit www.rawsolutions.com.au
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I dont think these are the only reasons you cant lose weight. What about illnesses or injuries, thyroid conditions, or some other undiagnosed health issue..
I think it is irresponsible to group all people who have trouble losing weight as basically being lazy, excuse makers who lack willpower.
No wonder we feel bad about ourselves with this attitude
I don't think Blake was suggesting these are the only reasons people can't lose weight... just a few ideas for those of us with no broader health issues, who need a little reminder to treat our bodies the way we should ;)