It is natural for any human being to want to look as good as possible and be as healthy as they can. In order to do that, however, it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, willpower, and a strict set of rules you must follow every day.
The main part of this is exercising regularly and a lot of those looking to lose weight are doing various types of exercises. Some prefer sports and play their favorite ones several times per week. Others enjoy going to the gym, group exercises, yoga, Pilates, or perhaps swimming. There are those who cycle or walk everywhere they go, run or jog a few times per week.
It is true that all of these contribute to losing weight especially if done regularly and correctly. However, many wonder how come they are active that much but still cannot lose any weight. They exercise, sweat, have sore muscles, but they are not shedding any pounds of their bodies.
In this article, we will determine the main reasons why you may be exercising enough but still not losing any weight, or at least not as much as you would like. The solutions for this are many and they are generally easy to incorporate into your life. In case you wish to learn more on the subject of losing weight and exercising, make sure to check out techtimes.com.
1. You are not eating right
Exercise will do you no good unless you combine it with a healthy diet and start practicing quality eating habits. If you only workout, you may become stronger and get more stamina than before, but all of the muscles will still be covered with a layer of excess fat you need to burn, which will also help you lose weight.
There is so much to talk about here, but first, we have to mention the obvious. Unhealthy processed and fast food has to go if you mean to lose weight. No more burgers, pizza, deep-fried foods, and especially sugar. All of these should be exchanged for healthier options like fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and legumes, and boiled or cooked meat and fish with as little oil and fat as possible. There is a plethora of meals you can prepare only with veggies, especially nowadays when healthy eating has never been more dominant and mainstream.
Keeping track of how much you eat is a good way to start losing weight. If you have no idea how much calories you consume per day, chances are you may be overeating without even realizing it. Try keeping a diary of your meals and make a schedule. Keep track of what you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any snacks between them.
Next up we have bad eating habits like focusing too much on one and the same food and not diversifying or eating late at night. Make sure your diet is a balanced one so that you can take all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs from different sources. Food quality is as important as food quantity. This means that once you start eating less, you will lose weight but not as much as you would if you start eating a little bit of everything that is healthy.
2. Then right kind of exercise
As mentioned earlier, even though you are quite active and you get tired from your preferred method of sports or working out, there are certain things you simply have to do if you mean to shed more pounds.
The number one thing people forget to do is cardio exercises. These are crucial for your whole body since you use it whole in every single cardio exercise. All of these are not only good for the muscles and losing weight, but for building stamina and for your cardiovascular system.
Any activity that increases tour heart rate and takes your breath away is considered cardio. Aerobic exercises, running, jogging, cycling, and swimming are the most obvious ones you can do. Even speed walking, trekking, and hiking will do. Your whole body moves when you do them, burning off the fat you did not even know you had. In addition, remember to stretch both before and after doing cardio!
By burning fat away your muscles will start showing in all the right places, especially your abs, arms, and legs. Cardio enthusiasts are usually lean, fit, toned with defined muscles, and obviously sporty. Without cardio to accompany your other activities, you will never lose as much weight as you can.
Lastly, lifting weights is a good choice if your training so far has become easy. Resistance training is crucial in becoming stronger, and you need to become stronger if you have outgrown your current training regime and need something more. Maintaining muscle mass while doing cardio and eating healthy is the best combo to lose weight in the most efficient way possible. The last thing you want is metabolic slowdown.
3. Good life choices
The final reason why you may not be losing as much weight as you want can be related to how you live. If you drink more than you should or smoke, your body battles these bad substances and has no energy left for the good things. Such chemicals are practically poison for the system and it is the best way to ruin the natural mechanisms responsible for losing weight and becoming stronger. Try to limit your intake of substances, alcohol, and cigarettes first, and then slowly move towards giving them up for good.
While exercise is great, you also need time to relax and recharge your metaphorical batteries. Sleeping is absolutely crucial for everything our body regulates, and it exists a natural response to tiredness for a reason. Anywhere from six to nine hours of sleep should be fine, depending on your schedule and responsibilities. A good sleeping pattern is maybe even more important than the amount as you will be in balance with your circadian rhythm. Quick power naps after training and a healthy meal feel amazing and they do wonders for your body.
