You’ve cut back on your eating, started an exercise routine, and just can’t seem to lose weight. What’s going on?
It could be a number of issues that are causing you to ask yourself, “Why can’t I lose weight?” The good news is that you can work through them.
“It’s very complicated, which is what people need to remember. It’s not a simple task to say I’m going to lose weight and it happens,” says Connie Diekman, a nationally known food and nutrition consultant and former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “So, give yourself a break.”
When it comes to eating, food choices, portion sizes and intent — whether you’re eating because you’re hungry or in an attempt to fill an emotional need — all play a role, Diekman shares.
You May Also Like
Of course, exercise has its place.
Not to be discounted is the significant role that biology and genetics play.
“Not everyone can achieve the weight loss they want to achieve. In other words, our bodies sometimes are smarter than we are,” Diekman adds.
That doesn’t mean that everyone can’t achieve what is a healthy weight for them by understanding what they can control.
You May Also Like
Typically, weight gain or loss is a calculation of energy intake and expenditure, but being overweight or obese is more complex, with genetics, behavior and environmental factors contributing, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Weight loss isn’t a specific diet but a lifestyle of healthy eating patterns, regular activity and stress management, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Losing even a modest amount of weight, 5% to 10%, can improve blood pressure, blood cholesterol and
