Exercise Not Enough? a Discussion on Why You’re Still Fat
Fact is, dropping those pounds can be a trickier game than the usual “diet and exercise” answer. While those are the foundation of a good exercise regimen, there are a number of factors that can make the battle of the bulge a lot more frustrating than it should be. Sometimes changing even one of the things below can make all the difference in the world.
Fitness Alone Won’t Do It (or How I Controlled Portions and Learned to Love my Bod)
Just as most things in life, there isn’t one facet to your weight-loss battle. Working out without eating right, and vis-Ã? -vis, won’t likely do much for you, or at least not as much as you might like. Think of this as a lifestyle change. It might be a little scary at first, but changing the way you act as well as the way you eat will yield dividends beyond simply adding exercise to your day.
Di-hydrogen Monoxide Deficiency
Keeping that (big) bottle of water handy is key in making sure you get results. Besides being about 70% of our bodies, water keeps you going on just about every front. Water flushes the waste out, transports nutrients, and tastes pretty darn good on a hot day. Without water, though, your workout isn’t working.
You’re Starving
Food, as wonderful as it is, can be a game of extremes at times. Many people believe that simply eating less-or very little at all-is the key to losing the spare tire. This can be dangerous, but at the very least, it can put a big halt to your weight-loss routine. Fact is, the body needs good food to keep the metabolism moving and to keep itself healthy and strong. If you suddenly get rid of most-or all-of your food intake, the body may very well go into a “survival mode” and begin conserving calories, which is the opposite of what you’re going for, right?
The better solution is to cut your calories, but do so with a knowledge of what you’re cutting and keeping. Cutting too many nutrient-filled items from your daily diet will not likely help your cause. Protein, especially, is necessary to keep you going and build muscle, so try not to cut too much out, if possible.
Not Enough Sleep
That whole eight hours of sleep thing that your mom told you about�well, as usual, she was right. Turns out even a small sleep deficiency can put a big hamper in your weight-loss routine. As much as you push yourself during the day, your body needs rest and recovery at night, and the best way to do that is with a solid eight hours every night, at about the same time. You plan your daily workouts, so why not keep your nightly cool downs on a schedule, too?
Achieving the Goal (and Giving Up the Ghost)
Fitness isn’t a destination so much as it is a journey. A lot of guys think that once they’ve conquered two dozen pounds, they’ve done it, it’s gone, and it’s never coming back. An attitude like that will do nothing but send an open invitation for that spare tire to return.
Truth be told, constantly monitoring your fitness regimen-both in terms of diet and exercise-is the best thing you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your hard work while making sure you don’t lose ground.
So if your normal exercise routine isn’t quite cutting it, or if you’re just entering the battle against your belly, consider yourself on notice. Being fit and healthy is wonderful, but it takes some basic lifestyle monitoring that, though it might be painful at first, is sure to help you look and feel better in the long run.
