It can be incredibly frustrating. You seem to be doing everything right. You are working out, you are eating healthier than you have in a long time, and you just can’t seem to lose the weight! There could be a myriad of reasons including a medical issue so if you are trying lots of different things and still aren’t seeing results it could be time to see your doctor, but for the purposes of this article we are going to discuss 4 common reasons why people who may be trying to lose weight just aren’t seeing results.

1. Portion Size and Sneaky Extras. While you may be eating healthier you may be eating too much of one type of food and not enough of another. It is easy to underestimate how much you are really taking in, so journaling either in an app or a good ole-fashioned notebook is essential. Most people who have lifelong success at maintaining a healthy weight have at one time or another tracked their food and drink intake (being completely honest with every squirt of ketchup and every shake of the salad dressing bottle). It has also become evident that having a visual aid for portion sizes can be much more helpful than trying to count calories. There are many free resources online where you can find a picture of what a healthy plate should look like.
2. The “I Worked Out” myth. Too often people will assume that if they worked out that they can eat whatever they want, and that is simply not the case. There is an expression that says “You can’t outrun or outwork your fork,” and I’m afraid that’s true. For most Americans we eat enough to support a normal workout regimen, we may need to be more aware of when and what we eat to make sure that we are getting in a good pre-workout snack and good post workout protein for muscle recovery, but for the most part the calories are there. This does not apply, of course, when someone is competing in a long distance run like a half-marathon or marathon, there nutritional needs will be different, but for the rest of us, we do not need to feel a license to go wild at the restaurant or at home because we worked out. Finding an app that helps you make certain that you are taking in sufficient calories and nutrition is always helpful and can keep you on track even when working out.
3. Using the wrong measuring tool. Sometimes people will be a slave to the scale, and they don’t account for converting fat to muscle and the fact that muscle takes up less space in the body. So, you may weigh the same or even more according to the scale, but be smaller in terms of inches. A better tool might be measuring tape, or my personal favorite: a goal outfit. Once you can fit comfortably into that goal pair of jeans or dress then you have reached your goal. It’s important to celebrate the little wins along the way as you get closer to a healthier weight.
4. Being on our Own Backs. One of the worst things that we can do when we are trying to lose weight is not appreciate where we are now. God created us and we are fearfully and wonderfully made as is! I get it, you want to be healthier so you can do all of the things that God is calling you to do. Well, part of that process is to not stress out about every little perceived mistake. Focus on Him. Put some scripture and prayers in strategic places asking Him for help. Then cut yourself some slack. When we get off our own backs about what caused us to get to where we are and we start celebrating the small victories both scale and non-scale, then we actually lower cortisol levels in our bodies, making it easier for us to lose weight. So, putting Him first in ALL things really does pay off!

We would love to hear from you and about your journey toward better health. Please feel free to comment on our Shazzy Fitness Facebook page, and let’s overcome some of these obstacles together! Also, if you are interested in becoming a Shazzy Fitness instructor we would love to hear from you. Reach out to me at angela@shazzyfitness.com and let’s get you started teaching this fun and uplifting format, that will help you get a healthier, body, mind, and spirit.