6 Possible Reasons That Prevent You From Losing Weight.

People often mistakenly think that in order to lose weight, you simply need to exercise. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Of course exercise is paramount if you’re really wanting to shred the fat, but there’s several other things that you need to keep in mind, if you’re ever going to fit into that dress, or get the 6 pack you’ve always dreamed of. Here’s 6 things you need to remember when trying to lose weight.

1 . YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MUSCLE

The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Fat and muscle tissues consume calories all day long whether you’re running, reading or sleeping. No matter what you’re doing, muscle rips through more calories than fat. So it’s not just about jumping on the treadmill for half an hour. Strength working is just as important. In fact studies have shown that building muscle over cardio is actually better for losing weight!

2 . YOU DON’T DRINK ENOUGH WATER

The benefits of drinking enough water are huge! It helps in weight loss, clearing up skin problems and maintaining blood sugar levels, as well as MANY others. Start replacing all of your beverages with water and start making yourself drink 2-3 litres of water a day. You’ll also notice you feel fresher when you wake up in the mornings. Be sure to space it out over the course of the day – don’t just sit there and drink 3 litres of water as that can be a health hazard.

3 . YOU SKIP MEALS

Skipping a meal seems like it would be a sensible way to save on some calories. Sure, it may cut calories but it slows down your metabolism and kicks your body into starvation mode. This causes the body to cling to fat because it feels it needs to in order to survive. The truth is, smaller regular meals is the best method, as it keeps your body in gear throughout the day, as opposed to stopping and starting between large less frequent meals.

4 . LACK OF SLEEP

Think you’re doing yourself a favor by skipping sleep so you can workout more? The truth is, you’d be better off staying in bed and finishing that sleep cycle because studies have shown that more sleep equals a healthier waistline.

5 . TOO MUCH STRESS

When you are under too much stress, your body begins to produce cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone that worsens insulin resistance and promotes the storage of fat! There may be nothing you can do to stop the stressful situation but try to find a relaxing outlet to help you deal with it.

6 . TAKING MEDICINE

A host of drugs that treat diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, inflammatory disease (such as Prednisone, above) and more affect weight regulation. Some will make you hungrier and others stimulate your body to store fat. And if a drug affects the brain, there’s a good chance it affects weight. Ask your health care provider if an alternate drug or a lower dose could work, but don’t change your medications without discussing it first.