Starting out on a journey to transform your body is a huge undertaking, whether you’re on a weight loss journey, want to build muscle or just improve your overall health. So results might not always come as quickly as you’d like, and at times you might even feel like you’re making no progress at all (or even going backwards!) If this is the case, here are a few things to address.
Underlying Health Conditions
Underlying health conditions can throw you unexpected challenges when it comes to losing weight and building muscle. Take, for instance thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism. This conditions messes with your metabolism, making weight loss a real struggle and one example where calories in vs calories out wont necessarily apply, as your body is simply not using your body’s fuel effectively. Other health conditions, like metabolic syndrome with high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causing hormonal imbalances, and Cushing’s syndrome leading to weight gain can all complicate your body transformation efforts. Insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes) can hinder weight loss too. Understanding and addressing these health conditions is key, so if you have suspicions that something is going on, speak to your doctor. Often a few simple blood tests can rule out or confirm the problem and you can get it treated.
Inconsistency
Consistency is absolutely necessary for a successful body transformation. You will know yourself if you’ve not been consistent with your efforts, perhaps you’ve been skipping workouts, not eating the right things and generally letting everything slip. This will likely lead to you reversing the progress you’ve made, but being honest with yourself means you can put it right. Establish a realistic routine, your food and exercise should be in harmony with the rest of your life, it shouldnt feel like it’s overtaking it as it will likely lead to burnout.
Lack of Sleep
Poor sleep can throw a wrench into your metabolic functions, making weight loss more challenging. Hormones that make you crave high energy foods as well as feel less full after eating are released when you’re tired which will always make everything harder. Poor sleep can also lead to poor mental health, and it’s a well known fact that the mind and body are closely linked. So to do what’s best for your physical transformation, your mind needs to be in the right place too. Look into mind body connection training for more information.
Inadequate Hydration
If you’re on a health or fitness hourney then you’re probably aware of whats going into your body in terms of calories, but are you tracking your water too? Water plays a pivotal role in metabolic processes. Dehydration can hinder bodily functions, you need to be drinking plenty to support your overall health and fitness goals.
Lack of Resistance Training
Cardiovascular exercises alone might not optimise your body transformation, building lean muscle mass can positively influence your metabolism, and contribute to a more sculpted physique. Many women can worry about looking bulky so avoid strength training, but this shouldnt be the case. It takes a significant amount of intense weight training to build bulky muscles in women and isnt something that will happen by accident. Instead, what will happen is you’ll build lean muscle which will actually make you look slimmer since you’ll be more toned and sculpted.