By If you hang around and listen to a conversation long enough, sooner or later it’s going to shift over to the subject of diet and exercise. It just seems as if everybody is obsessed with their weight, especially when it comes to losing weight. The problem is, most people would love to lose weight but they are unable to reach their goals. Why is that?
Although there may be endless reasons why people don’t reach their weight loss goals, it can often be summed up in just a few broad categories. As you look down through the following 5 reasons why people don’t lose the weight they want to lose, you will probably feel as if you fit into one of those groups quite nicely.
1. Procrastination
DadQuarters.com says one of the most common reasons why people fail to lose weight or fall short of their weight loss goals is because they tend to procrastinate. This can take place in any number of different ways. For some people, it is a matter of knowing what to do but not taking the time to actually get started and do it. Other people may have a delayed start or they may start/stop very quickly. They do not even reach the point of yo-yo dieting, they simply don’t stay on the diet long enough to actually be able to say they are on a diet.
One of the most common reasons why people procrastinate when it comes to weight loss is because they tend to overthink the process. You might end up analyzing every single step along the way before you ever get started and you actually end up with a problem of ‘analysis paralysis’. In other words, you analyze the situation so much that you end up doing absolutely nothing about it. How can you overcome this problem?
The easiest way to overcome analysis paralysis is by taking a ready, fire, aim approach. You already know what to do and more than likely, you could discuss your dietary method of choice in great detail. If you find that you know what to do but you think about it so much you don’t do it, then put your best foot forward and work out the details later.
2. Going to Many Directions
Some people tend to jump on any diet and weight loss bandwagon that happens to pass by. One week they may be trying a low carbohydrate diet, the next week they may be trying a low-fat diet and the following week, they could be doing a juice fast. Honestly, any type of weight loss effort is going to work in your favor, although there are going to be some that are more sustainable than others. If you try to go more directions than one at a time, you are doomed to failure from the very start.
The way you can overcome this problem is by focusing on one single direction and moving forward toward your weight loss goal. Don’t allow yourself to become sidetracked when the next big thing comes along, stay on course and enjoy the wins you experience along the way.
3. Not Going All-in
It is a well-known fact that it is much easier to go 100% than to go 90%. Unfortunately, most people who set a weight loss goal tend to go at it with an attitude that they are not going to go fully toward the end result. They may even give themselves an easy out, saying that they are going to cheat on the weekends or perhaps providing an opportunity to step outside of the lines and then get back into the weight loss program again.
If you are going to lose weight, you need to be 100% committed to the program, regardless of what the program happens to be. Don’t simply say you are going to diet for a week, a month or even a year, tell yourself that you are ommitted to sticking with this program for the rest of your life. If you are 100% committed, you will be able to overcome any temptation that comes your way without even putting any willpower toward it. The answer will just be ‘no’.
4. Your’re Ignoring Stress and Sleep
Most people tend to focus on either diet or exercise when they are trying to lose weight. Although it is a good idea to look in that direction, you should not ignore the fact that there may be many other factors that could keep you from reaching your weight loss goals. Two of those factors are stress and sleep.
Stress could be considered the killer of a weight loss program. If you are doing everything right and are still not reaching your weight loss goals, you may want to look at your stress levels. The stress hormone, cortisol, is released in great quantity when you are under a lot of pressure. It can make it nearly impossible to lose weight and you will be fighting an uphill battle when you try to lose the pounds without losing the anxiety. Take some time to rest, take a deep breath and meditate.
Another factor that could result in not losing weight is not getting enough sleep. Sleep is vitally important for reaching your weight loss goals and staying healthy in general. Most people need anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep per night. At this point, you’re probably thinking that you could never take that much time out of the day to get some shut-eye. It’s going to catch up with you and your body will demand a payback, either in the form of sleep or in the form of sickness.
5. You Are Dehydrated
One other factor that should not be overlooked is drinking enough water during the day. The general rule of thumb is to drink 8-10 glasses of water daily but even that may not be enough. If you shoot for half of your body weight in ounces of water, you are likely going to reach your daily goal.
Drinking enough water can help to keep you satiated so you don’t reach for the snack in the middle of the day. It also helps to flush the toxins out of your body and balances your entire system. Drink enough water during the day in your weight loss goals will be much easier to reach.
What do you think?