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

Top 3 weight loss resolutions

There’s nothing like a fresh start—which is exactly the reason so many people around the world clamor to make resolutions at the New Year. It’s the allure of finally reaching your goals and attaining that supposedly perfect life. The problem is, many people ditch those resolutions within just a few months, if not weeks.

Losing weight is the most common resolution out there. Instead of succumbing to weak resolve, why not choose goals that are easier to attain and don’t sacrifice your health? Here are the top three resolutions recommended by our favorite weight loss clinics.

1. Strive for a healthier lifestyle. Instead of obsessing about the latest trendy diets and losing that specific number of pounds, why not commit to changing your lifestyle? Aim to get more sleep, increase physical activity slowly but steadily, and work towards incorporating healthier foods into your diet. Creating realistic weight loss strategies will make it easier for you to stick to the overall plan and once you get used to each change, you can increase or add to your healthy new habits.

2. Prepare yourself regularly. In every aspect of life, the odds of success improve when adequate preparation is a priority. Kick start your programs and weight loss strategies by raiding your pantry and refrigerator and eliminating all those unhealthy foods.  Get rid of potato chips and other junk food, sweets, and as much processed food as possible. Reload your shelves with fruits, vegetables, lean protein and healthy whole foods. Stock your pantry with healthy snacks like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, Greek yogurt and berries. If you can, prepare some meals ahead of time so that you don’t sacrifice nutrients due to a rushed schedule.

3. Up your fiber and protein intake. Weight loss clinics recommend a diet high in fiber because it fills you up and provides a wide array of critical nutrients.  Lean protein sources help to build lean muscle mass, which ultimately burns more calories and fat. Eat these two types of foods and you’ll stave off hunger and rev your metabolism. Try as diverse a selection as possible to switch it up and get a balanced amount of nutrients.

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Easy weight loss programs for the New Year

Every year, right after the holidays, people flock in droves to the nearest medical centers for weight loss to sign up for diets, meal plans and easy weight loss programs. It makes sense that one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, but it happens to be one of the most challenging times to do so, as the majority of people indulge during the holidays and take time off from their exercise regimens.

To really experience success with easy weight loss programs, it’s critical to break these recently acquired bad habits and replace them with ones that promote a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few ways to help you get started towards the path to a new, sleeker version of you:

1.    Find the right plan for you. There are so many diets out there, offering you a wide array of options. Do your research so that you can find the one that will work best with your lifestyle and be the most realistic for you to implement. It’s best to work with one of the medical centers for weight loss available to you, so that you can ensure that the plan you adopt emphasizes safety and moderation, rather than a quick fix. You want your weight loss and new lifestyle to be long lasting, and therefore you need to find something that works for you for the long-term.

2.    Start small. Instead of trying to change your entire diet and lifestyle at once, make small changes towards your goals. If you try to do everything at the same time, you will shock your system and end up feeling deprived, which can ultimately lead to overeating and even binging.
 

3.    Reward yourself. Establish some rewards that have nothing to do with food for whenever you reach a milestone in your weight loss goals. Women often like to reward themselves with a new outfit from their favorite fashion clothing store when they achieve a certain goal. Do whatever will work best for you, whether it’s a weekend vacation for 20 pounds lost, a movie for every five, or a spa day for 15. You know yourself and what you like, so choose things that will keep you motivated and excited about your journey.

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