Medically reviewed by Dr. Unsa Mohsin.
Weighing machine. A thumping heart. And, a closed door. This is the exact scenario all of us picture when someone is measuring their weight. You have tried hard to lose those extra kilograms but your heart drops as you find out that the scale hasn’t budged at all. Don’t quit your diet, and don’t put that flag of hope down. Instead, figure out whether these things are messing with your diet or not.
Is it because I eat and zzZZZ right after?
Your plans for losing weight will be spoilt if you are eating too close to bedtime. This is because it can raise your blood sugar, and insulin making it difficult to burn fat. So, try your best to eat dinner at least 3-4 hours before you plan on sleeping.
Also, be cautious about snacking after supper. This is because you tend to consume more calories than you realize when you nibble while you watch TV or use the computer. You might also be tempted to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips or ice cream.
If, however, you are craving something then do not let it go. Instead, eat fruits and drink at least two glasses of water to control your craving.
Is my stress the reason for me not losing any weight?
This is definitely possible, as stress and weight gain, go hand in hand. Under stress, you start binge-eating and do not have control over the foods you eat. Your body also stores more fat when you are under stress. There are a lot of different ways to reduce stress. Some of them include meditation and consciously checking yourself to lower your tension levels. If you are a victim of chronic stress, however, then you should get professional help from a counselor.
Is it because I have a desk job and don’t move much?
You are not a monument made up of stone. You are a person made of flesh and bones. Therefore, you need to move. If you have a desk job where you sit for 8 hours or more, then you need to get up each hour for at least 5 minutes and do a brisk walk. Or, you can do some seated exercises like arm stretches and crunches. If you are sitting the whole day, and the only healthy spark of your life is eating healthy during the lunch break then you won’t find much luck in losing weight.
Is it because I give up after a short span of eating healthy?
Yes, if you are on a health graph, reaching both high and low points of a healthy lifestyle then you can have difficulty losing weight. Obviously, there will be some tears knowing that your scale hasn’t moved or your pounds haven’t dropped but you need to give it some time.
So instead, try to work your diet around eating healthy and then having cheat meals during the weekend. You need to remember that initially it may be a slow process but as soon as you get used to it and are committed to your health-plan then you start not only shedding pounds but also feeling super healthy.
Do your planks and those burpees. Keep the weighing machine away for a while as it can cause you anxiety. Replace your sugars with greens and natural sweeteners. Take pictures of your everyday progress and do a comparison at the end of the month. You might not have dropped any pounds on the scale, but you must definitely have lost a few inches. It isn’t always about dropping kilograms, it is also to feel healthy and bid farewell to all of your health-related problems.
Guest Post Credit: Asma Qadri
