12 Reasons You Can’t Lose Weight
Are you eating healthy food and exercising regularly but the scale won’t budge? Or even worse, your weight is going up. You start counting every calorie, watching your carbs, having a green smoothie every day and exercising more, yet nothing happens. You try another ‘miracle’ diet and you get discouraged every single time because it’s just not happening for you. You start to lose motivation and your self-esteem goes down.
Does this sound familiar? Here are 12 common reasons why you can’t lose weight.
1. You have hidden food intolerances.
Food sensitivities are one of the most common causes of difficulty losing weight. The gastrointestinal system is home to about 80% of your immune system. Hidden food intolerances may cause your immune system to react and create inflammation.
2. You are constantly stressed.
Long-term stress will cause high (fat-storing) stress hormone cortisol. When your cortisol levels remain high, your body will begin to store more fat around your waistline. It will increase insulin levels (a hormone produced by the pancreas) – the fat storage hormone. High cortisol increases blood sugar and that will give you sugar cravings.
3. You are not sleeping enough.
Sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in cortisol and decreased insulin sensitivity. You also won’t be able to fully recover from the exercise.
4. You are exercising too much.
Excessive exercise leads to increase in cortisol. There is a fine line between training hard and overtraining. Finding balance is key.
5. You avoid good fats.
Are you afraid of fats? Not all fats are created equal. Fats are an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in weight management, hormonal balance, healthy skin and hair, as well as supporting immune function.
6. You are not eating enough.
When you drastically reduce your calorie intake, your body will hold into fat and use your muscle for energy. This will slow down your metabolism.
7. Your sex hormones are out of balance.
Sex hormone imbalances can also cause weight issues. Do you suffer from PMS, breast tenderness or painful periods?
8. You have insulin resistance.
In insulin resistance, the insulin isn’t working as efficiently as it should. Insulin is the main regulator of the sugar levels in the blood, helping to keep your blood sugar level from getting too high or too low. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, it will try to manage by producing more insulin. That can lead to high blood sugar levels.
9. You have sluggish thyroid.
The thyroid gland releases hormones that control metabolism. Sluggish thyroid means slower metabolism. Do you suffer from fatigue, feeling cold, very dry skin or depression?
10. You are not drinking enough water.
Drinking water increases the amount of calories you burn. Drinking water before meals may reduce appetite and help with weight loss.
11. You are not getting enough vitamin D.
Studies show that low levels of vitamin D are associated with weight gain and obesity.
12. You are not chewing your food.
Digestion begins in the mouth. Saliva contains enzymes that help break down food before entering your digestive tract. The longer food is exposed to saliva (through chewing), the easier it moves through your intestines. This kick starts the digestive process and allows proper absorption of nutrients essential for optimal health.
References
- Wilders-Truschnig M, Mangge H, Lieners C et al., IgG antibodies against food antigens are correlated with inflammation and intima media thickness in obese juveniles. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2007
- Moyer AE, Rodin J, Grilo CM et al., Stress-induced cortisol response and fat distribution in women. Obes Res 1994
- Beccuti G., Pannain S., Sleep and obesity. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2011
- Mason C., Xiao L., Imayama I. et al., Vitamin D3 supplementation during weight loss: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2014
- Major G., Alarie F., Doré J., Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007
- Stookey, J. D., Constant, F., Popkin, B. M. Et al., Drinking Water Is Associated With Weight Loss in Overweight Dieting Women Independent of Diet and Activity. Obesity 2008
Milena Kaler is a is a qualified London Nutritionist, sports nutrition, stubborn weight loss, digestive health, and autoimmune disease nutrition specialist. She is trained in the principles of Functional Medicine and practices from her clinic in Central London, Harley Street, as well as providing online consultations.
Milena has helped thousands of people to lose weight and keep it off. Scientific and holistic in approach Milena looks at all aspects of a client’s health. She embraces a systems-oriented approach aiming to get to the root cause of health and weight issues instead of simply focusing on the symptoms.
Milena’s expertise has been sought by celebrities, and she has been featured as a nutrition expert in reputable magazines including Women’s Health, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Women’s Fitness, Peak Brain Training, and Metro.
As a full member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT), and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the only register for Nutritional Therapy recognised by the government and NHS, Milena is committed to upholding their strict Code of Ethics. Additionally, Milena is a member of the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology (PCSG).
Milena sees patients with chronic health conditions, as well as clients looking for support to optimise their health. Some of the areas Milena can help with include: weight loss, digestive, hormonal, autoimmune disease, menopause, and skin health.
Milena sees every person as an individual with different problems and different goals. She takes time to listen to her clients’ specific concerns to develop customised nutrition and lifestyle plans, based on laboratory test results. Having overcome her own chronic health and weight loss issues, Milena really understands how it is to feel overwhelmed by poor health and can relate to her clients when they first come to see her.
