1. You’re drinking too much alcohol.
I know this one is a hard pill to swallow because we all love to have our fun but if you’re going out every weekend for drinks it could be sabotaging your fitness goals. This was the hardest habit for me to quit in order to achieve the results I wanted. My freshman and sophomore year of college I was somewhat of a party animal, and even though I worked out and ate healthy meals I was gaining weight! Looking back the reasons for this should have been kind of obvious but I really didn’t understand why this was happening until I stopped drinking and started seeing results like never before. Now I’m not saying that you can never drink again because that honestly sounds horrific, but I am suggesting to cut back. Try to limit the amount of times you go out every week and when you do go out, trade your usual sugary mixed drink for a vodka and water with lemon. It tastes better than it sounds, I promise. This drink is on the stronger side, meaning you will probably order less rounds than usual. Your wallet and waistline will be incredibly thankful.
2. You’re eating the right things, but your serving sizes are wrong.
If you’re crushing your workouts and eating healthily but you still don’t see a change, it could be that you’re eating portions that are too big. Learning to read serving sizes and stick to them can make all the difference for weight loss. It’s very easy to think that just because what you are eating is healthy, you can have a little more, but even the healthiest foods should be measured out to avoid overeating.
3. You’re not giving it your all during your workouts.
We’ve all been guilty of spending more time at the gym talking to our friends or taking mirror selfies but if this is a constant habit of yours, it’s time to quit! The same thing goes for limiting your workouts to 20 minutes or less. I know working out can be grueling at times but focus on how good you will feel once you’re done. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishing your goals, and then you can take all the mirror selfies you want to show off your results. That being said, if you’re feeling under the weather or having a really off day but you still got in a 20 minute workout, don’t beat yourself up.
4. Your diet is off.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you can’t lose weight from exercise alone. I know it’s already tough enough to go to the gym and push yourself through a workout but you won’t make it very far unless you change your diet as well. If you’re still eating fast food or opening a bag of chips the second you get home then it’s time for a change. One thing that really helps to implement healthy eating choices is to plan ahead! If you know you’re the type of person to go for whatever is easiest or fastest when you get home after a long day then make your meals the night before. If you have no idea where to start with healthy eating, try Pinterest or a meal subscription box. You CAN make a change in your diet, you just have to be willing to try.
5. You’re not making it a lifestyle.
Being healthy shouldn’t stop once you reach your weight loss goal! So many of us are guilty of falling for a fad diet or being really disciplined until we reach our goals and then falling right back into our old routines. This will create an endless cycle of losing and gaining weight and will wreck havoc on your metabolism. Instead try to find workouts you actually enjoy, whether it’s a class you and take with a friend or a routine you enjoy by yourself. Try your best to eat healthy but realize that things are okay in moderation. It is unrealistic to think that you will never have sweets or pizza again, indulging every once in a while won’t hurt if your eating habits are otherwise healthy.
If you’re doing everything right and can honestly say that none of these apply to you, don’t get discouraged.
It is not uncommon to see people lose inches even though the number on the scale hasn’t changed. You can use a measuring tape to measure yourself and see if the inches start to drop. If you don’t feel confident that you will measure yourself correctly, go to a tailor! Most of them will measure you for free and you can revisit in a few weeks. If you were losing weight but suddenly stopped, you may have hit a plateau. Try switching up your workout and don’t give up, plateaus are annoying but they won’t last forever.
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