Weight loss is more than just dieting and working out. It is about having a balanced lifestyle with more focus towards healing yourself internally. In case you are one of those who often have trouble losing weight, then it’s time to understand some other aspects of a difficult weight loss. Regularly indulging in lip-smacking junk food options, dealing with a stressful life are just some of the various factors today that block us from achieving our optimal weight loss.
There are various factors could either help or hamper weight loss. So, today we will try to closely look at the top 5 reasons why people, especially women find it difficult to lose weight. Here are 5 factors behind your slow weight loss-

It’s in your Genes

Your genes are the answer to all your weight loss woes. Your genes can tell you if you are prone to weight gain or not, and what type of diet and exercise will best suit you.

Extra calorie intake

Those looking forward to losing weight should try and burn more calories than they normally would consume during the day. Some people underestimate their regular calorie intake, for example, eating more salt indirectly increases the weight by increasing thirst, which most people quench by drinking beverages such as tea, coffee or aerated drinks.
Also, just because you are trying to reduce weight by lowering your calorie intake does not mean that you need to be undernourished. You can also do it while eating a healthy diet to get all the essential vitamins and minerals. With appropriate diet planning and physical exercises, it is simple to decrease your calorie intake and still have sufficient energy to go about doing your day-to-day activities.
To achieve your desired weight loss goals, it is essential to have a good knowledge about the calorie content of each food that you are planning to add into your diet.  Also, make sure to stay motivated throughout your weight loss journey.

Certain medications

Many medicines such as anti-depressants, antihistamines, and certain blood pressure medications have been observed to cause weight gain. Take advice from your doctor about the issue and work along with your nutritionist to understand your complete nutritional needs.

Metabolic Issues

Dealing with hormonal imbalances is a common issue in women. It is one of the primary causes for not being able to lose weight. An under-active thyroid (Hypothyroidism) is a condition where your metabolism becomes slow leading to piling of extra kilos. There is an opposite condition called Hyperthyroidism which leads to weight loss. Although in rare cases, it has been observed as the reason for weight gain.
Get yourself examined for hypothyroidism. Visit an expert dietitian who can suggest a proper diet plan, specifically made for your health condition, in order to lose weight. Remember to take it slow and steady instead of drastically reducing your calorie intake. Follow a regime that gives your body enough time to adjust and adapt.

Stress

Taking abnormal of stress is responsible for releasing a hormone named Cortisol. It has been observed to induced hunger in the body. Even if you are not hungry, stress can make you feel like eating mindlessly. Not completing your sleep properly often leads to stress and leads to a cycle of stress – Cortisol formation. This leads to excessive eating. To curb the sleepiness and tiredness most people generally rely on coffee or tea that adds high-calorie intake of the day.

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol has a lot of calories. If you are a regular drinker, you will naturally ingest additional calories per month. It is suggested to keep track of your alcohol-induced calories if you are about to embark on a weight loss journey. If your body is loaded with alcohol, it becomes hard for your body to burn fat. In addition to that, it considerably slows down your metabolism and all the effort to lose weight goes in vain.
Losing fat can be complex, but following a strict regime of customised diet plan and correct consultation from an experienced dietitian can bring amazing results. The only thing required is your willingness to follow this journey with entire honesty.

Diet Tips for Fast Weight Loss

• The preferred strategy to keep weight in check would be to eat healthy and fibre dense snacks after every 3-4 hours. Try to keep healthy snacks like fruits, nuts (almonds), roasted chana, khakhras, idlis, dhoklas, sprouts, peanuts, wheat and soy biscuits, whole wheat sandwiches and clear soup handy.
• Your meals can comprise jowar chapattis with soy nuggets or paneer with vegetables and salads or brown rice or wheat bread with sprouts, greens and soup.
• Stay away from the fat-laden and low fibre like pizzas, burgers, pav bhaji, pulav khadi, white bread sandwiches, idlis, dosas, pastries, cakes, chocolates, parathas, theplas and khichdi and rather include vegetables, juices, whole grains and fruits generously in your diet. Avoiding such foods will make u less hungry and will help to keep your stomach full and your tummy flat.
• Zinc is an important mineral as it sensitises the tissues to insulin and helps to minimise sugar cravings. Natural sources of zinc include black and white sesame seeds. Chromium picolinate is another mineral which is required to balance blood sugar and lose weight.
• Some herbs and spices like saunf, methi powder, cloves help balance blood sugar and control hunger.  You can take a teaspoon of methi powder in the morning and green saunf in between meals. These spices are also a good source of flavonoids, which are antioxidants, and they protect the liver from free radical damage.