It’s that time of year again- where most of us make the resolution to take better care of ourselves, lose some weight and start leading a healthier lifestyle. Perhaps, you are looking to go down a few dress sizes or maybe there’s an item of clothing that you would love to be able to wear with confidence. It’s possible that you simply want to feel good when you are on the beach or in the gym. If you tried losing weight before and didn’t have any success, it can feel like nothing works. The truth is, there are numerous reasons why a plan to lose weight can fail. So, let’s look at some of the possibilities and consider how to tackle these problems the right way.
- False Methods.
It’s quite possible that you have been relying on false methods to lose weight that won’t actually provide the benefits that you need. Supplements are an example of this. Now, before you get the wrong idea here we’re not saying that supplements aren’t useful. Supplements can be a great way to boost the effects of exercise and eating well. But that’s the key fact you need to remember here.
Ultimately, it’s going to be an add-on instead of an alternative. You should also be careful how many supplements you are using. It can be tempting to pack as many as possible into your diet. However, if you do this, you can eventually be in the position where they start to cause side effects that you don’t want to encounter. Some supplements have even been known to cause – you guessed it – weight gain.
Another method that isn’t going to provide the results you want would certainly be crazy dieting. Crazy dieting can be anything from relying purely on liquids to focusing solely on one type of food. Now, the issue here is that it can have negative consequences to your health because your body isn’t getting the minerals, nutrients and vitamins that you need. This could also prohibit the levels of exercise that you will be able to complete and that’s always going to be a crucial part of improving your fitness.
Furthermore, you might find that the lack of substance in your diet, pushes you to go on a binge and leads you towards unhealthy possibilities that are going to damage the progress that you have already made.
2. Setting Goals.
You do need to make sure that you are setting goals when you are trying to get in shape and lose weight. The goals that push you further than before but must also be obtainable. For instance, you might want to lose fifty pounds in two weeks but that probably isn’t going to happen. You can use apps and another tech to keep track of your goals and work on your progress. This will also provide a clear idea of how successful your training has been and what you need to do if you are to improve your progress.
As well as making sure that you are tracking your progress, you need to make sure that you are setting physical goals as well. For instance, you might want to consider training to participate in an athletic or sporting event such as a marathon. When you train for a marathon, it pushes you to get your body in shape and move towards new athletic achievements.
You will need to be in the best condition of your life to have a hope of even finishing the race. The fact that you have signed up for a competition like this can be a powerful driving force and is well worth exploring. Of course, training for a competition like this or an event won’t be easy but that’s precisely why you should do it.
3. The Wrong Measure.
If we’re being optimistic, it’s quite possible that you simply aren’t measuring your progress correctly. We’ve mentioned apps and software but most of these will require you to put the information in yourself. If the numbers aren’t correct, then the results that follow will also be flawed. You want to avoid this issue. The best way to do this is to make sure that you are checking at the right time. You must make sure that you are measuring your weight at the same time each day. If you don’t do this, you’ll find the results will fluctuate drastically.
Your weight will be significantly lower late at night compared to measuring it early in the morning. It doesn’t matter when you measure as long as it remains constant. How you measure it should also remain the same as well. For instance, you don’t want to switch between scales at a gym and a set that you have at home as these will provide two completely different sets of numbers. While this might seem inconsequential, it can be enough to make you wonder whether it’s worth continuing down this path.
4. Too Many Cheat Days.
You have probably heard that cheat days are important when you are trying to get in shape and this is certainly the case. Cheat days can provide you with the support you need so that you won’t go on a massive binge when it finally gets to be too much. Remember, eating an unhealthy diet can be just like an addiction. When you start to fight it you may experience symptoms similar to withdrawal. It’s at this point that you might reach for the tub of ice cream. By providing yourself with clear, set cheat days, you’ll be able to fall back on a time when you can give into your craving.
That said, having too many cheat days will ultimately become a case of yo-yo dieting. When that happens, it can be enough to stop your progress completely. Instead of losing weight, your body will remain at a set point and you won’t be able to break through the wall.
We hope you see now some of the issues you can face when you are trying to get in shape.
