Unusual reasons why diets don’t work

1. It’s not the right diet

In one study from 2015, Israeli scientists discovered that not everyone achieves the same results even if following a diet strictly. About 800 participants were involved in the study and the differences recorded were not only for weight, but also participants’ blood sugar levels. Every body is different and responds to nutrients or nutrient deficiencies in a different way. 

Tip: Find out how best your metabolism responds to a diet. Your family doctor or nutritionist can help you with this.

 

2. You’re not going to bed at the right time 

A study published in 2015 in the Journal of Clinical Endocriminology & Metabolism showed that people who don’t go to bed regularly at the same time and have enough sleep have a higher body mass index and worse blood sugar levels. 

Tip: Make sure that you get enough good quality sleep. Set a bedtime and stick to it, particularly while dieting. 

 

3. You need more carbohydrates

Not all carbohydrates are the same and not all of them are bad when dieting. Fibre helps us feel full for longer and gives us the healthy energy our body needs for vital metabolic processes. And this can help with weight loss. 

Tip: Learn the difference between carbohydrates. Integrate healthy fibre into your diet. 

 

4. You are too stressed.

Too much stress releases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol increases the blood sugar level which causes the body to release insulin. Insulin is a storage hormone which stimulates the cells to absorb glucose from the blood and store it. 

Tip: Give yourself occasional breaks and quiet moments. Go jogging, do yoga or meditate during your lunch break. That will quickly reduce your stress level and also your weight!

 

5. You don’t have enough muscle

Men have an advantage when dieting Their higher proportion of muscle means they burn calories better and break down fats quicker. 

Tip: Replace regular endurance training with weight training. Focus mainly on the larger muscle groups to quickly increase the body’s metabolic rate and then train the desired muscle groups. 

Don’t get cross if the scales don’t show much change. Muscles are much heavier than fat. Before starting weight training, measure your mass so that you can see your progress easier.