Why Do Most People Fail to Maintain Weight Loss Long-Term?

Are you tired of all the challenging core exercises and STILL not seeing results? I’m sure by now you are aware that weight-loss is a taxing activity and requires a lot of hard work. Sometimes people have a lot of motivation in the beginning, but it soon wears out… which only leads to wanting to go back to binge-eating and consuming all those high-calorie meals they were abstaining from while dieting.

At this point, the goal is to not go back to your old sedentary lifestyle. Let’s address the reasons for falling back to old habits when dieting for weight loss before we try to fix the problem. =

1. Setting Unrealistic Targets
   Achieving set targets gives us a sense of accomplishment and thus drives us to excel even further. On the other hand, when a person cannot meet these targets, disappointment often turns into resentment and can eventually lead to quitting altogether. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when you set unrealistic and non-achievable weekly and/or monthly goals The solution to this problem is maintaining a journal of weight loss, doing extensive research to opt for the ideal weight loss targets, and going easy on yourself in case of any delays. Important reminder: a person should also enjoy a cheat day once a week or fortnightly.

2. Depression and Stress
   Mental health is the main reason for dieting relapses and, inevitably, weight gain. Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”, is responsible for increased belly fat. When someone starts self-loathing, it’s very common to lose all the motivation to train and lose further weight. This can result in stress eating and consuming high-calorie foods.

3. Short-Lived Motivation
   A person is usually most motivated once they start losing weight and noticing visible changes at the beginning of their diet. They have invested time and money in the gym, they are making dietary changes and are starting to see actual results. However, all the ignition and motivation is lost as soon as progress slows down. Because the instant gratification is gone, people start to put off the work because ‘they already have made progress’ and fall back into old habits, like binge-watching television while indulging in junk food like chips and soft drinks. Losing weight requires a lot of commitment throughout the tenure.

4. Looking for Shortcuts
   Losing weight is a lifestyle change, NOT a one-time activity. People often try to lose weight by taking weight-loss supplements and crash dieting. Initially, they will even do enormous amounts of strenuous exercises without even taking a day off. The bad news is as soon as they stop, they will likely gain back the weight they had lost. These shortcuts are not sustainable in the long-term. A person must be willing to invest time and energy to make lifelong changes to their lifestyle if they want to lose weight and maintain it.

5. Difficulty with Prioritization 
   In today’s world, everyone is busy with their daily routines. It’s very common for someone to get stuck in the office, invited to last minute social events, or have to cater to family needs. More often than not, people have no time left to look after themselves. Weight-loss exercises require time and consistency. A person facing difficulty in taking time out for regular physical activities will likely struggle to lose additional weight.

Bottom Line: Resistance to weight loss is not uncommon and discourages a lot of people throughout their weight loss journey. Keep yourself motivated and be willing to adapt to this new lifestyle. Make it a fun activity instead of making yourself feel suffocated. Learn new weight loss techniques and give yourself a breather regularly.

After all, you should be BURNING pounds, not burning out 😉