If you think you’ve tried everything – dieting, counting calories, exercising for hours and after meals – and you’re still not very satisfied with the results, don’t give up just yet. Probably the reason you are not shedding those extra pounds yet is due to more than just your diet and activity levels.
We compiled a list of possible reasons why your weight loss has hit a plateau.
Surprising Reasons for Weight Gain
Hormonal Changes
Throughout a woman’s life, her body undergoes hormonal changes as it prepares for puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. All of these processes influence metabolism and can sometimes lead to weight gain.
While this is perfectly natural for the female body, it can sometimes cause some inconvenience.
Step 1: Gradually increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity. Some exercises that may be sufficient for a young woman are not always sufficient for women over 40.
You should also try to make your workouts as diverse as possible: swimming, yoga, aerobics, sports, and any other activity you enjoy. The general rule of thumb is that the older you get, the more physical activity you need.
Step 2: See a doctor. Medical examinations and the professional experience of specialists are absolutely necessary to make sure you know what to expect during a period of hormonal change.
Eating Too Much Fruit
Fruit is considered a healthy snack. However, it is important to note that some types of fruits are high in calories and high in sugar, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Consuming too many calories from fruits may be the reason your extra weight is not disappearing.
Step 1: Replace sweets like cake and chocolate with your favorite fruit. The secret is not to eat too many fruits.
Step 2: Remember that different types of fruits have different nutritional values. Green apples, along with grapefruit, pomegranate, and pineapple, contain the fewest calories.
Health Issues
Weight gain can also be caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract due to toxins, constipation, polycystic ovaries that influence the production of male hormones, and thyroid dysfunction that decrease the production of hormones.
Step 1: Write down everything that causes you physical discomfort throughout the day. Examine your body and make a list of the things that concern you.
Step 2: See a doctor as soon as possible. A specialist will analyze your symptoms, determine the cause, and offer a treatment plan.
Taking Medication
It often happens that the list of possible side effects of certain drugs is so long that many people prefer to ignore it completely. Other people think that the benefits of the drug are much more important than its possible side effects.
Antidepressants, birth control pills, antihistamines, antipsychotics, steroids, beta-blockers prescribed to treat certain conditions are examples of drugs that generally cause people to gain weight.
Step 1: Study the list of possible side effects for each medicine before you start taking it. Then pay attention to how you feel after taking the pills.
Step 2: If you suspect that a drug is making you fat, feel free to consult your doctor and ask him or her to prescribe something different. If you decide to stop taking the pills on your own or end up finding an alternative, you can cause more harm.
Lack of Sleep
Many studies indicate that there is a relationship between weight gain and lack of sleep. Thus, according to research by the American company Mayo Clinic, people who sleep no more than 6 hours a day gain 11 pounds more each year than those who sleep at least 7 hours. A difference of one hour can have a big impact!
Step 1: change your priorities. We are sure that you will find an extra hour of sleep if you spend less time online, lying on the couch, or watching TV.
Step 2: stick to a schedule. The later you go to bed, the less efficient your sleep will be.
Do you know of any other reasons why those last few pounds can be so hard to lose? Share them with us in the comment section below.
