Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight? (2024)

Some people can lose weight easily on their own through simple diet and exercise. But many popular weight loss techniques don’t work. Cleanses, fad diets, and crash diets don’t help most people lose weight in the long-term.

In fact, most people will regain about 30—35 percent of the weight they've lost after one year.

If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to lose weight, or if you’ve lost weight but gained it back, you may benefit from a comprehensive weight management program. Our program takes a holistic approach to weight loss by looking at:

  • what you eat,
  • how much you exercise,
  • how you manage stress, and
  • how your medical history affects your weight loss.
Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight? (2024)

FAQs

Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight? ›

People may find it difficult to lose excess weight

weight
Human body weight is a person's mass or weight. Strictly speaking, body weight is the measurement of weight without items located on the person.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Human_body_weight
for many reasons, including lifestyle and mental factors. Other reasons may be hormonal factors such as menopause or changes in body composition as a person ages. There is no “one size fits all” solution for weight loss.

Why is it so much harder to lose weight? ›

Genetics, environmental factors, sleep, metabolic changes, social circ*mstances, mental health, emotional eating, distorted messaging from the diet and fitness industries, gut health, chronic stress and medical conditions can all affect body weight and a person's ability to influence it.

Why is losing weight such a struggle? ›

For most overweight people, their body tries to prevent permanent weight loss. This means your body is actually working against you to lose weight. That's because how much you weigh is controlled by complex interactions between hormones and neurons in your hypothalamus.

Why am I finding it impossible to lose weight? ›

Check With Your Doctor. Some health problems can make it really hard to lose weight even if you diet and exercise. Your genes can also play a role in how much you weigh or where your body stores fat. Talk to your doctor if you just can't seem to lose weight.

What is blocking my weight loss? ›

Your slower metabolism will slow your weight loss, even if you eat the same number of calories that helped you lose weight. When the calories you burn equal the calories you eat, you reach a plateau. To lose more weight, you need to either increase your physical activity or decrease the calories you eat.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds? ›

Losing weight safely typically involves losing 1-2 pounds per week. This would allow you to lose 20 pounds within about 5 months at 1 pound per week or 2 1/2 months at about 2 pounds per week.

When is losing weight the hardest? ›

As we reach our 30's, our bodies usually need less energy, meaning we may not be able to eat the way we did in our 20's. Then, as you move past 40 and head to middle age, changes in muscle, hormones and metabolism all make it harder to stay trim.

What is the 30/30/30 rule for weight loss? ›

The 30-30-30 rule involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity, steady state cardiovascular exercise. Beyond these steps, the 30-30-30 method doesn't require any changes to other meals or behaviors, restrictions or counting calories.

How can I speed up my metabolism? ›

5 ways to boost metabolism
  1. Exercise more. Add interval training to your cardio routine and burn more calories in less time. ...
  2. Weight train. Add muscle mass to your body and you can burn more calories at rest. ...
  3. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. ...
  4. Eat fat-burning foods. ...
  5. Get a good night's sleep every night.

How to break a weight loss plateau? ›

12 Simple Ways to Break Through a Weight Loss Plateau
  1. Cut carbs.
  2. Exercise more.
  3. Track your foods.
  4. Eat protein.
  5. Manage stress.
  6. Try fasting.
  7. Avoid alcohol.
  8. Increase fiber.

Why am I putting on weight when I am eating less? ›

You Might Be Eating Too Little

This phenomenon is called “starvation mode,” and while your body isn't actually starving, it will naturally hold onto whatever calories it receives in an effort to help you maintain your energy balance.

Why am I not losing weight even though I am exercising and eating right? ›

Not experiencing weight loss could be due to several factors, such as the medications you are taking, the way you are exercising, or your eating patterns. You might not notice weight loss or your desired results even when you do everything "right."

When your body won't let you lose weight? ›

Some medical conditions can drive weight gain and make it much harder to lose weight. These include hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) ( 32 , 33 ). Certain medications can also make weight loss harder or cause weight gain. If you think these apply, speak with your doctor about your options.

What is the 2 2 2 method metabolism? ›

Smith says the first 2 is for two different types of meals: fatty meals and carb-heavy meals. The second 2 represents non-food related aspects like weekly weigh-ins and introspective journaling, while the third 2 represents exercise consisting of bodyweight and/or high intensity interval workouts.

Why is my body so resistant to weight loss? ›

There are a variety of causes for weight loss resistance, including underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances. Other causes include medication side effects, insufficient sleep, chronic stress, and poor diet choices.

Why is the last 20 lbs the hardest to lose? ›

There are a few reasons why this happens: Metabolism: The number of calories you burn at rest and while exercising depends on your metabolic rate. As you reach your target weight, your metabolic rate, making it more difficult to burn calories even when you are following the same diet and exercise patterns.

Why am I not losing weight even though I'm exercising? ›

Most people who have difficulty losing weight are simply eating too many calories. An important factor in weight loss is how many calories you're eating versus how many calories you're burning. It may seem easy, but if you're not tracking your calories each day, you may be consuming more than you think.

Why is the last 10 pounds the hardest to lose? ›

The last 5 to 10 lbs are the most difficult to lose because cortisol levels increase due to stress and everything in the body fights against the process.

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