Calories… they’re always on your mind if you’re trying to lose weight. Common knowledge teaches us that weight-loss is a simple equation of calories in vs. calories out. In other words, if you’re eating less and exercising more, you should see results.
But in reality, there’s a lot more you should be considering. If you’re eating in a calorie deficit and you’re still in a weight-loss rut, you may be searching the world wide web for a plausible answer. Instead, take a look at some additional factors you should pay attention to.
Weight-loss is More than Calories:
Metabolic Adaptation
As your body adjusts to weight-loss and other lifestyle modifications, your metabolism changes. In fact, in often slows down! This means that your caloric and physical activity needs may also need adjusting. To calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), CLICK HERE.
Prolonged Stress
Ongoing stress drains the body and alters your hormones. This can affect everything from your metabolism and sleep cycle to your nutrition and physical activity. Make sure you’re reducing stress whenever possible and taking time for self-care.
Muscle Gains
If you’re exercising more, you may be gaining muscle. This can affect the number on the scale and even cause it go up. Pay attention to how your body is changing physically through weight management. Not all weight gain is negative!
Impatience
Don’t expect to drop multiple pounds in one week. And if you lost weight quickly at the beginning, don’t expect to continue losing at the same rate. This process takes time and is affected by many different factors. Focus on the progress, not the number.
Not Enough Calories
You may be cutting calories, but are you getting what your body needs? Too little can have adverse effects. Skipping meals and drastically reducing your calories can signal your body to go into starvation mode where it actually stores calories and fat in defense.
Focus on the Journey
It can be easy to get caught up in the metrics of weight-loss. Rather than hanging on the small stuff, focus more on building healthier habits you can use forever. Weight-loss is more about the journey than the final outcome. You’re doing an excellent job and that’s enough!
