Surprising Reasons You Aren't Losing Weight

You're eating healthy and working out. Why isn't the scale budging? Or worse...why are the numbers going up?? It's such a defeating feeling, but let's take a moment to understand why this might be happening.

1. You aren't getting enough sleep.
This is a big one. “It’s not so much that if you sleep, you will lose weight, but if you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly,” explains Michael Breus, PhD, author of Beauty Sleepand the clinical director of the sleep division for Arrowhead Health in Glendale, Ariz. The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. “Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin,” Breus says. “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.” More ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain.
2. You are retaining water.
This is a really common issue, especially among women. Ironically, not drinking enough water is the main culprit as to you may be retaining water. Eating a diet really high in sodium will also help you retain water. While the human body can store energy as glycogen, fat, and tissue, it cannot "store" water - the body uses its own water but expects us to provide a continuous supply of fresh new water regularly to function. Water is critical in moving nutrients into and out of a cell, an action known as the "ion pump". When you take in the improper balance of sodium and potassium or do not drink adequate water, your body will increase a hormone and try to "retain" water by keeping your kidneys from filtering it. Additionally certain medications will make you retain water, including advil! Monthly hormonal fluctuations also unfortunately add to the problem. When you are feeling bloated, try to replace all your drinks with water.
3. Your muscles are gaining strength.
Be happy about this! As you gain strength in your muscles, you may put on weight, but the good news is your body fat percentage is going down. Contrary to popular belief, muscle doesn't actually weigh more than fat. Remember that old riddle, "what weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?" A pound is a pound. Muscle and fat differ in density--in other words--if you compare 5 pounds of fat and 5 pounds of muscle, the muscle takes up less space. So your body may end up weighing more, but you will take up less space (ie you will be a smaller person! have a smaller jean size! yay!)
4. Your hormones might be out of whack.
As many as 1 in 10 women of childbearing age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition in which a woman's ovaries produce an excess of male hormones. In addition to causing ovulation problems and infertility, PCOS may go hand-in-hand with insulin resistance, a glitch in the way your body processes blood sugar, which is often associated with excess fat storage, especially around the waist. If you have unexplained weight gain, irregular periods, acne, trouble getting pregnant, or excess facial and body hair, PCOS may be the reason. Your OBGYN can test you for this.
5. You may have a sluggish or underactive thyroid.
Your thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) disrupts your metabolism, as well as many other aspects of your health. This typically affects older women, but is not unheard of in young women. Besides weight gain or an inability to lose weight, you may notice fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, joint pain and muscle weakness, heavy periods, increased sensitivity to cold, even depression. Many people with low-grade hypothyroidism just feel "off," with no obvious signs of being truly sick. Your doctor can easily screen you for this.
6. You may have food intolerances.
Most people know if they're allergic to certain foods like nuts or shellfish, but many aren't aware of food intolerances. While a true food allergy results when your immune system mistakenly identifies a food as harmful and mounts an immediate response, food intolerances can have a variety of causes, including lack of a certain digestive enzyme (as with lactose intolerance) or sensitivity to food additives, and tend to manifest over time, says Dr. Elizabeth W. Boham, M.D., R.D., a family practitioner at The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. Eating a "trouble food" -- the most common being dairy, gluten, eggs, soy, corn and nuts -- can lead to bloating and water-weight gain, among other symptoms. Experts estimate that food intolerances affect as many as 1 in 10 people. If you are having bloating, cramping, diarrhea, gas, constipation, or even seemingly unrelated symptoms like eczema, headaches, muscle and joint pain, this could be the culprit. An internist or gastroenterologist can help you diagnose the problem, but you can begin to figure it out for yourself through an elimination diet.




Remember, at the end of the day your weight on the scale is just a number. It doesn't define you as a person; it's not a reflection of how disciplined or "good" you are. It fluctuates from day to day, hour to hour, and it's nothing to get all worked up about. That being said, keeping your weight in check once a week or even once a month to make sure there aren't any dramatic changes (which could indicate a health issue) is a good idea. Just try not to let that number hurt your feelings. You are not a number! :)