Did you know there are lots of factors that affect weight loss?
I’m sure you’re aware of some, le salt but there are several others we’ll cover.
Not only that but why it is important to know these.
We all know it can be frustrating when you’re losing weight and you’re not eating anything, you’re exercising but you don’t see the scale move.
First, check out my post on ways to measure yourself, because if you are only using the scale you might be doing yourself a disservice!
Important to know these so that you don’t get so angry, frustrated when you don’t see the scales or other ways you measure going down.
When you know what’s affecting your weight loss, not only are you prepared but it can help you move forward.
So let’s get started.
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Factors that Affect Weight Loss
Salt
This is probably the first one we think of.
If you’ve gone out to eat, maybe seen a movie and had a buttered popcorn, or maybe made a very salty meal, the next morning the scale will reflect that. It will inevitably be higher.
A tape measure might even show bigger.
Your clothes might be tighter for a day or so.
When you realize this it won’t be such a shock.
Related Post: Drinking More Water
Your Cycle
For most of us, at some point during our cycle, we will see weight gain.
If you pay attention to your cycle, not just when it starts you’ll probably start seeing a pattern.
I start feeling, seeing my cycle affect my body about two weeks before my actual menstruation begins.
Bowel Movements
I know, I know, it’s not the most fun thing to talk about but it definitely will have some effect.
If you are not regular, meaning having bowel movements every day or several times a day, then you will be holding that extra weight which obviously is not true weight, right?
Other Hormones
Our hormones, outside our menstrual cycle, will also affect our weight loss.
You always hear about women gaining weight during menopause so if you’re in or getting closer to menopause age you might see changes.
Stress
If you are more stressed than normal, or overly stressed, your body might hold on to your fat as a flight or fight response.
Check out my post about stress.
Carbs
Now, I don’t like putting this one because I feel like carbs get a bad reputation.
But I did learn recently that carbs help you hold onto water.
So if you’ve been eating a lot of carbs, similar to salt, you will very likely see weight gain, which is water weight.
Again, not true weight gain but will affect what you see on the scale.