10 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight

Stubborn weight gain despite doing the right things or weight loss resistance due to an inability to stick to a weight loss plan are two of the most common frustrations I hear from the women I work with. The good news is, there is always a good a reason for why you feel so stuck.

Once we uncover the reason, we can embark on the path to the solution which will help you to gain freedom from stubborn weight gain and the horrible cycle of yo-yo dieting.

Here are the 10 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is the leading cause of stubborn weight gain. Insulin can be elevated while blood sugar levels are well within range, as a result, insulin is rarely tested and insulin resistance can go undetected for years. Symptoms include stubborn weight gain, especially through the mid section, cravings for carbs and sweets and energy crashes throughout the day. Learn more about How To Lose Weight With Insulin Resistance

Certain Medications and Supplements

There are a number of medications that increase the risk of insulin resistance and weight gain, these include but are not limited to: antihistamines, stomach acid medications, some anti depressants, anti psychotics and anti seizure medications, oral corticosteroids, beta blockers, some diabetes medications, statins, antibiotics and most types hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy.

Some of these medications are essential and in those cases we will work together to support your body to release weight to the best of its ability along side your prescription. Others are simply masking a symptom that could be resolved by addressing the root cause. In these situations, I would encourage you to work at addressing the root cause while working with your doctor to taper off any unnecessary prescriptions.

Disclaimer: tapering off certain medication is not always possible, it is a personal choice that can only be considered with the support of your doctor if it is safe to do so.

Long term use of certain supplements can create imbalances that also disrupt the metabolism and your ability to lose weight. It is important to regularly review your supplements, avoid self prescribing and know, less is best.

Your Metabolic Rate is Low

Yo-yo dieting, restrictive dieting, crash dieting and chronic stress can all cause a drastic reduction in your metabolic rate. Women with a low metabolic rate may find the are tired, rarely hungry and can’t lose weight despite not eating much.

There are usually multiple imbalances at play with this problem and a holistic approach is required to bring resolution to this challenge.

Your Caloric Intake is Too Low

Mainstream weight loss advice tells us that eating too much and not moving enough is the only reason why we struggle to lose weight. This is simply not true. Eating too many calories is rarely the real reason why someone one struggles to lose weight however, it can occasional be the cause.

Some women have had a long history of dieting, low muscle mass, hormone imbalance and an inability to exercise which can mean the amount of calories needed to lose weight is far lower than anticipated.

Instead of continuing to restrict until you finally start losing weight, work with your naturopath to heal your metabolism, improve muscle mass and restore balance to your hormones so you can begin to lose weight while eating a satisfying amount of food

You Have an Under Active Thyroid

Under active thyroid function and cellular hypo thyroid are common causes of stubborn weight gain. Our thyroid controls our metabolic rate. Chronic stress, sickness and a history of restrictive dieting can signal to the thyroid to slow down our metabolic rate.

Under active thyroid function can be diagnosed through blood testing however, thorough testing is rarely performed and under active thyroid function can go undetected for years.

In addition to this, cellular hypo thyroid also exists. With this condition, thyroid hormone levels in the blood may be perfect but the person may experience many of the symptoms associated with under active thyroid function like fatigue, brain fog, feeling cold all the time and stubborn weight gain. Fortunately, a holistic approach can restore balance to this challenge.

You Are Not Sleeping Well

Sleep impacts our hormones and behaviours. A lack of sleep drives up the weight retaining hormones like insulin, cortisol and leptin while increasing cravings and decreasing will power and motivation to do what is wise for our bodies. Learn more about Sleep and its Impact on Weight Loss

You Are Chronically Stressed

A regulated nervous system is required for effective and sustainable weight loss. Chronic stress creates a cascade of hormonal challenges that can make it difficult to release stubborn weight. Learn more about Stress, Cortisol & Weight Gain and why this is one of the 10 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight.

You Have Gut Health Imbalances

From issues with stomach acid and digestion to dysbiosis and leaky gut, there are a number of gut health imbalances that can make it difficult to lose weight. Common symptoms like bloating, reflux, indigestion, sluggish bowels and food intolerance indicate that there is a deeper problem at play and if we ignore these early warning signs, these gut health imbalances can begin to impact other areas of our health like hormones, skin health, mental health, immunity and more.

During an initial consultation, I will work with you to uncover if gut health challenges may be contributing to your inability to lose weight and surprisingly, this is far more common than you may think.

You Are Not Eating Enough Protein

Not eating enough protein is is one of the 10 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight for good reason.

Regardless of what other imbalances may be preventing you from losing weight, eating enough protein will, in most cases, improve your chances of success. I very rarely meet women who eat enough protein and sometimes, this little change is all that is needed to stop sweet cravings, improve energy and brain fog, start shifting stubborn mid section weight and support the release of stubborn fluid retention. Learn more about How Much Protein to Eat for Weight Loss

You Need Guidance and Support

Navigating your way though all of the conflicting information can be overwhelming and exhausting. Working with an experienced practitioner will allow you to develop a clear protocol that is tailored specifically for you, your body and your unique needs.

Instead of jumping from fad to fad you can begin to learn how to make sustainable, long term changes that will lead to a lifetime of success and freedom from the imbalances that have held you back in the past. As a Naturopath specialising in weight loss, I would love to support you.

If you are ready to take the first step, here are 3 ways I can help:

1. Work with me! Book a consultation in person (Evandale, SA) or AUS + NZ wide online via Zoom

2. Listen to the Holistic Weight Loss Podcast

3. Connect with me on Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook