You have been working your butt off (or trying to, at least), but that number on the scale still won’t budge. Though this can be disheartening, don’t give up now! All that means is that it is time to reassess your fitness plan and pinpoint exactly what is preventing your weight loss. Here are some possible reasons you could be hitting a plateau:

You aren’t drinking enough water

Staying well-hydrated is an essential element of losing weight. First of all, water helps suppress your appetite, stopping you from overeating. Additionally, dehydration causes your kidneys to not function properly, so your body has to rely on your liver to make up the difference. The effort from your liver forces your body to store the fat rather than burn it off. As a rule of thumb, you should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces every day.

You are too stressed

Stress stimulates the release of cortisol, the stress hormone, which acts as an appetite stimulant. Too much cortisol also slows the metabolism. Stress also increases the production of neuropeptide Y, which causes cravings for carbohydrates. Fortunately, exercise reduces stress, so if you feel this might be the reason you aren’t losing weight, come into Spunk Fitness for a workout and exercise tips!

You don’t get enough protein

High-protein meals make you feel more satiated and prevent muscle loss. Additionally, protein takes more energy to metabolize, so you burn slightly more calories. If you are struggling to lose weight, it may be that you are not getting enough protein in your diet.

Weight loss can be difficult, but we can help! Come into Spunk Fitness for our exercise tips. We can help with your weight loss; sign up for a gym membership today!