Why Is Weight Loss so Difficult?

If you’re struggling to lose weight, you know how hard the process can be. You’ve tried everything to drop a few pounds, but nothing seems to work for more than a week or two. It’s just hard, and you’re tired of the fight.

Why is that?

Believe it or not, there are specific reasons why weight loss can be so difficult for you. Here’s a look at a few common reasons, courtesy of the expert team at Physicians Weight Loss Center Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Once you know these reasons, you can develop a strategy to attack your weight loss from a new angle to get results.

Your body is fighting you

This doesn’t seem fair, but it’s true. When you lose weight, your body decreases the production of the hormone leptin, which tells your brain you’re full. Your body also increases the amount of ghrelin, a hormone that kicks hunger into gear. These two forces are conspiring against you, plus as you lose weight, your metabolism slows down, which in turn makes it harder to lose weight again. You’re not dreaming — your body makes it hard to lose weight.

Quick fixes don’t usually work

In today’s world of instant gratification, our minds have been trained to expect quick results. The problem is that sustainable weight loss doesn’t work that way. Those starvation diets, fad diets, or diet pills might feature a quick drop in weight, but they wreak havoc on your metabolism, and the weight usually returns.

When it comes to weight loss, slow and steady is the name of the game. Losing a pound or two a week will add up in the long run; you just have to train your brain to think long-term.

One size does NOT fit all

All humans are designed in a similar manner, but we’re all unique as well, so there’s no possible way one diet will work for everyone. It’s easy to get discouraged when you see a diet working well for so many people and not you, but that just means you have to find a solution better tailored to your individual situation.

You have your own family history, metabolism, health habits, activity level, likes, and dislikes, which means an effective solution for you may be different than what works for someone else.

Exercise is good — but it’s not enough

Yes, cardio and strength training are important parts of losing weight, but exercise alone is not enough to get the results you want. You have to watch what you eat (take in fewer calories than you burn) AND work through an exercise program to get back to the body you want.

You need to change your lifestyle, not just your diet

Sustainable weight loss comes down to changing your behavior (aka your lifestyle), not just what you eat and how often you exercise. If you “diet” for a few weeks or months, the pounds are likely to return when you go back to your old habits. Instead, build a healthy, sustainable way of eating and exercising to keep your body at a good, healthy weight.

If any of these reasons resonate with you, the team at Physicians Weight Loss Center Highlands Ranch is ready and waiting to help you dive into long-term weight loss solutions. Just call the office or use our online scheduler to set up an appointment. Remember — there is always hope!