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In the absence of a medically diagnosed condition, here are a few reasons your weight loss regimen isn’t as effective you expected:
- Eating Too Fast
Our busy schedules may be to blame for this habit. We are constantly on the move and we barely have time to sit and enjoy our meals. Research shows that it takes approximately 20 minutes for the stomach to communicate ‘feelings of fullness’ to the brain. Eating too fast can cause us to eat more than our body needs, which in turn can jeopardize our weight loss efforts. Eating slower will satisfy our cravings as well as reduce the overall quantity consumed at one time.
- Skipping Meals
Research shows that people who skip breakfast tend to weigh more than those who eat a healthy breakfast. The psychology behind this is when we deprive ourselves of important meals like breakfast, we tend to over-compensate later in the day, which is typically at night. A healthy weight loss program requires at least 3 healthy meals a day. A healthy breakfast will kick off our metabolism and a healthy lunch will provide the energy to keep us going. All these factors will lead to better meal choices at night.
- Drinking Calories
In the absence of a medical condition, experts believe a healthy weight loss program requires we burn more calories than we consume. As we diligently count our calories, we tend to ignore the caloric content of our beverages. These could be alcohol, coffee with cream and sugar, juices, etc. For example, a 12-ounce can of soda equals 150 calories and a 20-ounce smoothie could easily contain 400 calories. This puts a huge dent in our caloric allowance for the day, which can jeopardize our weight loss goals if we do not increase our physical activities accordingly. Losing weight requires we take into consideration the nutritional composition of our beverages and chose water as often as we can.
- Oversized Portions and Sides
In addition to huge portions, we tend to include salads and fruits to our meals. Even though this is done with good intentions, these add-ons contain calories as well. For a successful weight loss program we must take into consideration everything we consume at meal time, including the sides.
- Snacking
Similar to sides, protein bars and little snacks we consume in between meals sometimes go unnoticed, which can also jeopardize our weight loss efforts. The lesson here is to pay attention to the nutritional composition of that protein bar and low fat cracker.
- Not Consuming Enough Water
Weight loss experts emphasize the need for hydration. In addition to its cleansing properties, water can curb hunger and boost metabolism.
A successful weight loss program requires a healthy diet and physical exercise. However, other factors may contribute to our inability to lose weight, at which point we may need medical intervention. Many people struggling with obesity turn to medical weight loss programs. The medical provider typically performs blood tests to determine possible causes which could be low testosterone, thyroid conditions, etc. See a medical provider for a medical weight loss analysis or schedule a consultation at a medical weight loss clinic near you.
NuMale Medical Center offers medical weight loss programs in Denver CO, Charlotte NC, Chicago IL, Las Vegas NV, Milwaukee WI, Green Bay WI, Omaha NE, Tampa FL, Austin TX and Albuquerque NM.
