Six Reasons You're Not Losing Weight (a two-part series)

 

Part 1: the small stuff

(or short- term issues that affect your scale weight)

1.  Timing

You ate some of your wholesome, performance enhancing food later than you typically do

There’s literally still food in your digestive tract being broken down and absorbed

Lesson: chill

2.  Timing

You weighed yourself earlier than you usually do

There’s literally still food in your digestive tract being broken down and absorbed (see above)

Lesson: chill

3.  You lifted weights yesterday

Resistance training causes tearing, and forces your muscles repair themselves (ie. grow)! This is great, but the process causes plasma to shift into the muscle tissue as part of the process. More plasma = more water weight

Lesson: chill

4.  You ate a lot of carbs or salty foods yesterday

For every gram of carbs we ingest we can hold up to 4g of water, and where salt goes water follows, so decent amounts of either of these very important elements can cause some temporary weight gain

Lesson: chill

5.  You’re freaking stressed

Stress = increased cortisol levels.

Increased cortisol levels = increased water retention (short term), and impaired insulin sensitivity & fat laydown (long term)

Lesson: chill

6.  You’re bowel movements leave a little something to be desired

Once again, there’s literally still food in your digestive tract being broken down and absorbed (see above).

Lesson: Try increasing your water intake and ensuring you are getting 30-35g fibre a day and plenty of exercise!