The 6 Surprising Facts About Weight loss
Most people want to lose weight for several reasons. For some, it is for better health reasons while others just want to improve their appearance and lose body fat. But losing weight is not always as simple as cutting calories and exercising more.
Diet and exercise alone won’t help you lose weight, and you may not realize the underlying effects of weight gain. There are a lot of factors at play when it comes to shedding pounds. Here are six surprising facts about weight loss that can help you in your weight loss journey.
What are the 6 Facts about Weight Loss?
1. There is such a thing as ‘weightloss resistance‘
Maybe you are also one of those people who already did everything to try to lose weight but still failed. If that’s the case, then you might be suffering from ‘weight loss resistance’.
Weight loss resistance occurs when your body starts to hold onto fat instead of burning it for energy. This can be caused by several different things, including hormonal imbalances, stress, sleeping habits, nutritional deficiencies, insulin resistance, and even high stress.
The people who mostly suffer from weight loss resistance are women since they are more prone to hormonal imbalances. Being unable to lose weight is frustrating, especially when you feel like you’re doing everything right. If you think you might be weight loss resistant, talk to your doctor about ways to overcome it.
2. You might be eating more calories than you think
Most of us underestimate how many calories we eat in a day. The desired calorie intake for weight loss is usually around 1,200 to 1,500 for women and 1,500 to 1,800 for men. But a lot of people end up eating more than that, without even realizing it.
One study found that people who were trying to lose weight underestimated their calorie intake by about 30%. This means that if you think you’re eating 1,500 calories a day, you’re probably closer to 2,000.
Fewer calories are important to make sure you’re not eating more of it than you think, consider tracking your calorie intake for a week to get a better sense of how many calories you’re eating.
Keeping track of your calorie intake can be done by using an app or simply writing it down in a journal. This will help you to better monitor what you’re eating and how many calories are being consumed.
3. You can lose weight without exercising
According to resources.org, a mere 5% of adults get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, and only one in three receives the recommended weekly amount of physical activity. While exercising is great for overall health and can help aid weight loss, it’s not necessary.
If you don’t have the time or energy to work out, you can still lose weight. It is a commonly accepted belief that to lose weight, one must exercise.
However, this is not always the case. There are several methods for losing weight that does not require any form of physical activity.
One such method is portion control or calorie restriction. By eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, you can control your hunger and avoid overeating.
Another way is to make sure that you are getting enough sleep. When you are well-rested, your body is better able to regulate its hunger hormones.
Finally, drinking plenty of water can also help you to lose weight. Water helps to flush out toxins and keep your metabolism running smoothly.
While exercise is certainly a beneficial way for healthy weight loss, it is still not the only way.
4. Crash diets don’t work
Crash diets are not the way to go if you’re looking to lose fat quickly. Crash diets have become increasingly popular recently, as people look for quick and easy ways to lose weight.
While crash diets may help people to lose weight in the short term, they are not a sustainable or healthy way to achieve long-term weight loss. According to Wellsphere, only 5% of persons who go on a crash diet will manage to maintain their weight loss.
There are several reasons why crash diets don’t work. First, they are often based on severely restricting calories, which can lead to feelings of hunger and deprivation. Additionally, they often eliminate entire food groups or nutrients, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
And lastly, crash diets are usually not sustainable in the long term, as people often find it difficult to stick to such a restrictive diet. To lose weight and maintain your results, opt for the healthier alternatives that you know you can stick to long-term.
Fill up on nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein sources, nuts, and seeds. Also cut out processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of saturated and unhealthy fats from your diet.
5. You could be retaining water.
Did you know that water accounts for 60% percent of your total body weight and is the first thing to be lost when you sweat? But, water retention can cause you to feel bloated and heavier than usual.
It is often the result of eating too much salt, hormonal changes, or even something as innocuous as PMS. If you think you might be retaining water, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce bloating.
Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that it can be a frustrating process. You might be wondering what you are doing wrong. One possibility is that you are retaining water.
Several factors can contribute to water retention, including salt intake, hormones, and certain medications. If you think you might be retaining water, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the bloating and swelling.
First, cut back on salty foods. Second, drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to help flush out your system. And finally, consider talking to your doctor about diuretics or other medications that can help reduce water retention.
By understanding the causes of water retention and taking steps to reduce it, you can help yourself attain your weight-loss goals.
6. Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain
Sleep deprivation can have many negative consequences, including gain weight. According to one study in the national library of medicine, compared to those who slept 7–8 hours per night, those who slept 5 hours or even less had a 15% higher chance of acquiring obesity, while those who slept 6 hours had a 6% higher risk.
This was in comparison to those who slept 7–8 hours. Some research also says that getting insufficient sleep can hinder your attempts to lose weight by restricting calories in addition to being correlated with increased body fat stored levels. Additionally, it may result in more muscle mass loss.
Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain in several ways. First, when you are sleep-deprived, you are more likely to make poor food choices and crave high-calorie foods.
Second, sleep deprivation can lead to an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, which can promote the storage of fat. And finally, sleep deprivation can lead to increased appetite and reduced basal metabolic rate.
If you want to lose weight, it is important to get enough sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Conclusion:
Weight loss is a complex process that is affected by many different factors—some of which might surprise you! From water retention to sleep deprivation, there are a lot of things that can stand in the way of achieving your ideal weight goals. If you’re struggling to lose weight, talk to your doctor about ways that you can overcome any obstacles standing in your way.
