Are you tired of all the challenging core exercises and still unable to see the results? Do you want to return to your old sedentary lifestyle? Weight-loss is a taxing activity and requires a lot of hard work. Sometimes people have a lot of motivation in the beginning, but it soon wears out. They want to resume binge-eating and consuming all those high-calorie meals they were abstaining from while dieting.
Article Summary: In this article, you will learn the reasons for falling back to old habits when dieting for weight loss. Only once the root cause of the problem is known can one try to solve it. Some of the causes for the inability to maintain weight-loss in the longer run are as follows:
1. Setting Unrealistic Targets;
2. Stress And Depression;
3. Short-Lived Motivation;
4. Looking For Shortcuts;
5. Difficulty With Prioritization.
Setting Unrealistic Targets
Achieving targets gives us a sense of accomplishment. It drives us to excel further. On the other hand, when a person cannot meet their targets, disappointment often turns into resentment and, eventually, the person decides to quit.
When you set unrealistic and non-achievable weekly or monthly targets, you will get stuck in a rut. The solution to this problem is maintaining a journal of weight loss, doing extensive research to opt for the ideal weight loss targets and going easy on yourself in case of any delays. A person should also enjoy a cheat day once a week or fortnightly.
Depression and Stress
Depression and stress are the main reason for relapses and gaining weight. Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”,is responsible for increased belly fat. The person starts self-loathing and loses all the motivation to train and lose further weight. This can also result in stress eating and consuming high-calorie foods.
Short-Lived Motivation
A person is usually most motivated when they start losing weight at the beginning of their diet. They have invested time and money in the gym, they are making dietary changes and are starting to see actual results. However, after a while, all the ignition and motivation is lost. People want to fall back into old habits of binge-watching Netflix, eat chips and drink soft drinks. Losing weight requires a lot of commitment throughout the tenure.
Looking for Shortcuts
Losing weight is a lifestyle change and not a one-time activity. People often try to lose weight by taking weight-loss supplements and crash dieting. Initially, they will even do enormous amounts of strenuous exercises without even taking a day off. As soon as they stop these unsustainable activities, they will likely gain back the weight they had lost.
These shortcuts are not sustainable in the long-term. A person must be willing to invest time and energy to make lifelong changes to their lifestyle if they want to lose weight and maintain it.
Difficulty with Prioritization
In today’s era, everyone is busy in their daily routines. A person usually gets stuck in the office, socializing, studies and catering to family needs. More often than not, people have no time left to look after themselves. Weight-loss exercises require time and consistency. A person facing difficulty in taking time out for regular physical activities will likely struggle to lose additional weight.
Bottom Line
Resistance to weight loss is quite common and discourages a lot of people. Keep yourself motivated throughout your weight loss journey. Be willing to adapt to this new lifestyle and make it a fun activity instead of making yourself feel suffocated. Learn new weight loss techniques and give yourself a breather regularly.