Trouble Losing Weight? Avoid These 3 Things

If there’s one thing I get asked the most from women, it’s for weight loss tips, especially in the midsection. The reason it’s so difficult to give a one-word answer is because there’s so many factors that play into how to lose belly fat. Your lifestyle, eating habits, mood and stress levels all play a role in why you are or are not losing weight.

However, there are a few general rules of thumb that anyone can apply to see excess weight start to shed. So, today I’ll be sharing how to lose belly fat with three of my go-to weight loss tips.

Why Am I Not Losing Weight?

I hear it all the time. Women claim they’re doing all the right things and the scale just won’t budge. I get it, we’ve all been there. Unfortunately, weight loss is much more complicated than the outdated idea of “calories in, calories out.”

The first thing I always ask my clients is what their stress levels are like. Take a second and think about your day-to-day life. Are you running around like a busy bee or do you kind of flow through your routine with space to step back and make choices, rather than just react? Usually when I ask this question people have a strong pull toward one or the other. If stress is running high, this can be a major reason why your body is holding onto fat. To our bodies, fat is like a safety blanket. Once you start to shed the stress, your body will feel less inclined to keep its blanky.

Another common reason we can hang onto weight is because of our environment. From skincare and makeup to cleaning products and pollution, we’re constantly exposed to toxins. Even more so if you live in a busy city. Things called obesogens can especially prevent you from losing weight. Obesogens are endocrine disruptors, which affect our hormones. Hormones regulate everything from metabolism to growth and development, so keeping them happy is crucial! One of the most common obesogens is BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) can most often be found in plastics, which is why it’s important to opt for BPA-free when possible. [1]

3 Things To Avoid For Weight Loss

The moment you’ve been waiting for! My top three weight loss tips. I won’t make you wait any longer, so let’s get right into it:

1. A sedentary lifestyle

I know it sounds obvious, but a sedentary life is a sad life. From my experience, walking is a huge help in weight loss. Not only is it a form of exercise, but it’s a stress-free form of exercise. This is key! Walking can help to calm your nervous system, which can help your body relax and feel safe. [2] Remember, that’s key in healthy weight loss! Just commit to 20 minutes per day to start, and work your way up from there. If you need to drive to a scenic neighborhood or get to the beach, go for it! I like to set an alarm for half the time I intend to walk so I know when to turn around. For example, for a 20 minute walk I’ll set an alarm for 10 minutes. 

2. Sugar

Sugar is one of the easiest ways to gain weight. What’s tricky though, is that most of the sugar that sabotages weight loss goes unnoticed. You may not have a sweet tooth, but what about the added sugars in your salad dressing, coffee creamer, protein bars, and such? Make sure you’re always reading ingredient labels for unnecessary sugars. Fruit is my recommended go-to form of sugar!

3. Stress

I mentioned it before, and it deserves repeating. Stress is a major player in overall health. You can exercise and eat perfectly, but if you’re stressed, none of it matters. Make sure you set aside time each day to just relax. Oftentimes, people binge television shows, eat extra servings of dessert, or skip a workout class in the name of self-care. But that’s not caring for yourself at all! De-stress in healthy ways like with meditation, a bubble bath, journaling, prayer, singing, dancing, reading, and more. For an extra boost of de-stressing power, try Happy Gummies. Happy Gummies contain ashwagandha, a powerful herb that helps reduce stress and fight stress-induced weight gain.