3 Reasons Why I’m Not Losing Weight

If you’re thinking to yourself, “why am I not losing weight?” then this short article is for you.

Your weight-loss journey is as much mental and emotional as it is physical.

And the reasons why you’re not losing weight could be far different than the reasons others are or aren’t (as you’ll see in just a second).

Whether you have yet to see results, have hit a plateau, or just aren’t getting a good feeling about your weight loss, these 3 reasons could be why.

Reasons Why I’m Not Losing Weight—Advice From The Experts

Reason #1 Why I’m Not Losing Weight

Your priorities are off.

You’ve decided to work with a personal trainer. In all seriousness, good for you! But what’s the first thing you do? If it’s “retail therapy” to stock up on the latest, fashion-forward workout gear, you’ve skipped some steps.

If you’re trying to lose weight, your goal is to create a “You” that you’re proud of. To be successful that needs to remain the priority, not swiping your credit card, taking selfies, or anything else that doesn’t completely support your goals.

When you’re not worried about distractions, you can focus on the work that makes weight pour off of you. Once you shed those pounds, then celebrate your success with some fresh, form-fitting clothes. You’ll need to, because you’ll be swimming in your old outfits. Till then, keep your eye on the prize. Your focus determines your reality.

Reason #2 Why I’m Not Losing Weight

You don’t have a plan (or you don’t stick to it).

Nobody walks in off the street, picks up a kettlebell, and chisels the body of their dreams without a plan in place (though, that’d sure be something).

The key to successful weight loss lies within your plan. Ideally, a plan personalized for you and your needs by a fitness professional. Any successful weight loss plan takes into account all the subtleties and specifics that make you, you. The level of activity you can currently handle … your body mass … your fat mass … your nutrition … your range of motion, your history, etc.

Collectively, these factors establish your “baseline.” That’s why all great trainers and fitness professionals start with your “baseline” and build a plan around it. No baseline, no plan. No plan, no weight loss. Unless you have a fitness background, assembling these ingredients yourself is a recipe for failure. If you’re not losing weight, it’s time to hire a professional. Work with them to develop a plan—then stick to it.

Reason #3 Why I’m Not Losing Weight

You have an unhealthy relationship with food.

Most people who struggle to lose weight fall into one of two camps:

They demonize food and cut calories down to the bare minimum.
Nutrition is a total afterthought. They only focus on exercise.

Here’s the problem: You can’t out-train a bad diet. Therefore, nutrition matters. But you also can’t lose weight and build muscle by starving yourself. Sure, you might drop a few pounds at first, but it won’t last. Plus, you’ll be doing lasting damage to your body and brain that will probably make future weight loss even more of an uphill battle.

Believe it or not, starving yourself can actually cause your metabolism to slow down. That’s about the worst thing that can happen when you’re trying to lose weight. Not only do you need to eat, you need to eat right. Food is not the enemy. And even when trying to lose weight, you should still enjoy eating.

We teach our clients to work with food instead of fighting against it. Focusing on things like flavors, consistency, environment, feelings—this helps you treat food as an experience, not a reward nor a roadblock. Your relationship with food affects your weight. Plain and simple.
If you’re not losing weight, you now know what to do. The truth is there could be dozens of reasons why you’re struggling—and you may need the keen eye of a fitness professional to help identify them. But for now, you know 3 of the top reasons why you might not be losing weight.