What to do when you can’t lose weight?

 

The struggle to lose weight is REAL!

In fact, the 38th Annual Meeting of The Obesity Society, which took place in early November, focused almost exclusively on the consequences of stay-at-home orders on people with obesity.

But one of the studies presented at that meeting raised an important issue that definitely merits more attention than it’s been getting.

What about people who were trying to lose weight before the pandemic began?

Or the people who’ve gained membership to the Quarantine 15 club and want out?

How are they doing with the weight loss?

Apparently, not so well.

A full 69.6% of people are having trouble achieving their weight loss goals.

So, what gives? Read on, and while you’re at it…

Research shows that regularly consuming as few as 10 to 50 calories per day, can work against your weight loss goals.

And let’s face it, it’s easy to consume 10 to 50 more calories per day even under the best of circumstances.

And circumstances such as these, which are definitely not best, have been linked to increased food intake, especially of high fat, energy-dense between-meal snacks.

So, what to do?

Well, we suggest exercising what we call “eating mindfulness” by taking a photo of everything you eat over the course of a day.

Oh, and if it sounds scary?  then you probably really need to be doing it.

Not everyone living under lockdown finds themselves struggling with their weight.

But why? A recent study suggests that some people are inherently better (or worse) at controlling the cravings that occur in response to stressful situations.

The scientists behind this study point to genetic predisposition as a factor.

The difference may come down specifically to how we respond to the stress hormone, cortisol, which can slow our metabolism while also making us crave comfort food.

Whatever process is at work, the solution, at least for now, appears to be adopting strategies for improved craving control.

Grocery hoarding, also known as “stockpiling,” makes a certain amount of sense during a pandemic.

The problem is that having a lot of food around is a recipe for overeating.

The boredom associated with lockdown only magnifies the problem, because it can lead to mindless eating.

Here are a few simple hacks to circumvent “boredom-eating” while keeping the kitchen well-stocked:

-Stick to a regular schedule, and that includes scheduling meals.
-Build self-care into your routine, which can include meditation, warm baths, or a hobby you can enjoy from home.
-Shop after you’ve already eaten, and stick to a grocery list.

We all know binge-watching has increased during the pandemic.

A recent study demonstrates the increase is even larger for people already dealing with obesity.

While binge-watching is tempting, and it’s understandable we might want to use some of our newly spare time to catch up on a bit of culture, spending hours a day promotes a sedentary lifestyle.

The more hours you sit per day, the less muscle activation you will have, and the fewer calories you will burn.

Inactivity can lead to loss of muscle mass, decreases in metabolism, and increased risk of obesity.

So, what’s the solution?

If you can’t bring yourself to limit your TV time, then at least consider multi-tasking such as cleaning or exercising while you watch.

With supplies of certain foods dwindling, and the prices of certain foods skyrocketing, lack of access to healthy foods is a serious concern for many.

 That’s why it’s more important than ever to plan meals ahead of time.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Healthy Supplies Shop is  not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of healthy supplies shop  and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.