What happens when the scale just won’t budge?

Have you been cutting calories, using weight loss products and exercising daily, but the scale still won’t budge? If that’s the case, don’t get frustrated and leap off the wagon—there are many others in the same boat as you. Otherwise, medical clinics for weight loss probably wouldn’t exist.

While you may be avoiding sweets and practicing portion control with the discipline of an athlete, there are still some factors that you may be unaware of that are causing detriment to your weight loss plans. So keep practicing the good habits you’ve been working on, and take these three elements into consideration so that you’re better equipped to combat your weight issues.

A sluggish metabolism. Unfortunately, as we get older, our metabolism slows down. In addition, some people have issues due to yoyo dieting that can often result in a slowed metabolic rate. While this can be very frustrating, there are ways to deal with it. For starters, you may want to visit one of the many medical clinics for weight loss to find out if you do have metabolic problems. Next, you should focus on increasing your physical activity levels as much as possible. Start an exercise program or boost what you’re doing if you’re already working out. Don’t just hit the gym and do cardiovascular work; mix it up with strength and flexibility training. This will help to confuse your muscles and avoid the dreaded exercise plateau—plus, it will keep exercise interesting for you so you don’t get bored and lose motivation. Try fun and exciting workouts, such as kickboxing, yoga, Zumba and gymnastics classes. In addition, leave that sedentary lifestyle behind—walk to as many errands as you can, stand and fold your clothes when you do laundry, and just get moving as much as possible!

Lack of lean muscle. Lean muscle mass makes it easier for your body to torch calories—the more you build, the more efficiently your body will function. This explains why most men have an easier time burning calories. Again, hit the gym and do strength training—that’s the quickest and best way to gain muscle. You don’t need to get crazy and start following the regimen of a professional body builder or anything like that—just follow a safe weight lifting program that will lean you out. This is an area that something like Pilates or gymnastics classes can really help you with, as it is a very strength-building sport. For best results, alternate your workouts and try to mix your workout sessions up, switching back and forth between bursts of cardio work and resistance training.

Mindless snacking. Often times, people plop down in front of the television with a bag or box of something that can end up being very fattening. When you’re eating mindlessly, it’s easy to lose track of how much you’re eating and go too big, even if you’re eating weight loss products. Always put your meal on plate or count out your serving if you’re going to zone out with a snack. For example, count out 30 pistachios and put the jar away before you sit down to watch The Walking Dead marathon.

image: creatingahealthylifestyle.com