I’m Eating Healthy But I’m Not Losing Weight!

I’m eating healthy whole foods and exercising, but I’m NOT losing any weight!

This is often the complaint I hear from new clients. They’ve tried all the healthy eating trends and have followed them totally; yet the weight refuses to budge.

Discouragement sets in and they’re ready to give up trying.

Can you relate?

I spent over a year eating healthy and exercising every single day and at the end of the year I had gained 2 pounds. I was not a happy healthy eater.

Have you been eating healthier, yet not seeing the results you thought you should?

Don’t despair, there’s a reason why you may not be losing your weight.

Let me share what I’ve learned since that despairing season of my life.

We often hear, “calories in” with more “calories out” will equal weight loss. Not necessarily. This is a very simplistic view of how our weight loss or gain works.

A lot of this comes right down to your metabolic rate which is affected by things like your activity level, history of dieting, body composition, and even what you eat.

But, let’s go beyond the “eat less and exercise more” advice and dive into some of the less obvious underlying reasons why you may be gaining weight even though you’re eating healthier.

Here’s some of the reasons I found…

Aging

Funny things happen the older we get.  Believe me, I have first-hand experience. 40 hits and your body starts doing strange things.

People commonly experience lower energy levels, more digestive discomfort, weight gain, as well as aches and pains.

Aging can result in hormonal changes for both men and women.  And these can contribute to loss of some lean muscle mass, as well as increases and changes in fat storage on our bodies.

The good thing is that, this is very common and not your fault one bit.

Hormones

Your thyroid is the master controller of your metabolism and can be a massive contributor to your weight gain.  There are several things that can affect it and throw it off course.

When your thyroid gets off course and produces fewer hormones your metabolism slows down.  And when your metabolism slows down you can gain weight.  Even though you’re eating the same way you always have.

Pro Tip: Talk with your doctor about having your hormones tested.  Oh, and try the thyroid-friendly recipe that I created for you at the end of this post.

Here’s a little eGuide I’ve put together to help you balance your hormones. Request you free copy and discover how to boost your energy, sleep better, start losing weight, and begin feeling great. 

Click Here to Request Your Copy

Sleep

There is plenty of research that shows the influence that sleep has on your metabolic rate. 

When I was much younger I would defy sleep and operate on 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day. There was just too much to do and I thought sleep was not that important. WOW – what a false perception.

As we age it can become harder and harder to get a good night’s sleep.

The general consensus is to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night to help avoid weight gain.

It’s true!  Lack of sleep is linked with weight gain.

Who ever thought you can sleep off your weight?

Pro Tip: Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.  The first place to start is by implementing a calming routine before bedtime.

Stress

It seems to be everywhere!  So many things that can cause stress responses in your body. You’re running a home, may be working outside the home, taking care of yourself and your family, your social activities keep you on the go and there’s never any downtime.

All this constant activity creates stress.

And you know that stress hormones are not going to help you sustain healthy habits or maintain a healthy weight, right?

While you may not be able to change all your stressors you can try to adjust your stress response to them.

Pro Tip:  Try meditation or yoga.  Or even mindful eating.  What about those new adult coloring books that are all the rage now?

There are lots of factors that can affect your weight, even if you’re eating the same way you always have.  Aging, hormones, stress, and sleep are all interconnected to each other and can all contribute to weight gain, even if you’re eating the same way you always have. As a Transformational Nutrition Coach specializing in Digestive Health, I work with clients who struggle with unresponsive weight gain. You can contact me to set up a consultation to discuss how you can make some positive changes in your life to get that weight off.

In the meantime, here’s a healthy recipe, taken from my Gut Restore Program, that is thyroid friendly.

References:

https://authoritynutrition.com/lose-weight-in-menopause/

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/sleep-stress-and-fat-loss