At some point in our lives, we have all thought about losing weight. Statistically, 50 percent of you are trying right now. Many have struggled with weight loss for as long as they can remember. Whether we were trying to fit into a certain size of clothing, weigh less on the scale, look good for our beach vacation or reunion, or simply get “healthier,” many face several of the same challenges along the way.

We are inundated with information relating to diets, weight loss, fitness, etc., daily… the hottest new cleanse or the latest workout program. We can be overwhelmed with the amount of information combined with sheer exhaustion and frustration from years and years of trying without success. Add in menopause, and you have a whole set of reasons why it is much harder.

So why is losing weight so difficult?

We generally struggle to lose weight and keep it off due to physiological, psychological, or environmental reasons.

Here are the top five reasons losing weight is so challenging:

1. You are not surrounding yourself with others who share your wellness/weight loss goal. Suppose Sally goes out to dinner with a friend with the intention of eating salmon, vegetables, and sparkling water, yet her friend is eating fettuccine alfredo and a glass of wine and encourages her to do the same. In that case, chances are she will give in to that pressure rather than stick to her original healthy plan. Surrounding ourselves with others who value wellness - or who honor your commitment to weight loss - goes a long way toward your goal.

2. You experience chronic stress. Many of us are living in a perpetually stressed-out state, making it very difficult to lose those pesky few pounds. By now, we all know that we tend to overeat and gain weight when we are stressed. This is partly due to the hormone cortisol being elevated, which causes a chain of events that wreaks havoc on weight loss. Stress eating means we are using food as a “reward” or coping mechanism rather than fuel and nourishment for our body.

3. You try to tackle unsustainable habits. When trying to lose weight, many of us go “all in” and try to change everything at once instead of starting with small and simple habits. Modifying our eating habits is challenging and takes time, commitment, and planning. Many of us are trying to undo years of poor eating habits and food choices. It takes consistency for a new habit to stick, and many people become impatient, diet “hop,” or find their new choices or lifestyle too difficult to sustain.

4. You lack sleep. Whether due to work schedules, stress, etc., lack of sleep can lead to hormone imbalances and therefore increased cravings. When we don’t get at least 7 hours of uninterrupted and restful sleep, we tend to crave carb-heavy foods that provide a quick burst of energy yet leave us with an empty tank soon after the “thrill” of the sugar is exhausted.

5. Your busy lifestyle gets in the way. Many of us feel like we never stop. Our days are full to the brim with meetings, appointments, deadlines, driving, work, family, etc. When we don’t prioritize our health and wellness - and our meals - it is nearly impossible to reach our weight loss goals. Put your wellness first. Plan your meals. You will be more productive and have more energy. You will lose that weight.

We want to help you (and your team!) take charge of your health and wellness. Here are two ways you can get started today: https://alexandriawellness.com/#takecharge. If you are interested in joining our new concierge small group, where you’ll have a built-in community of others seeking holistic wellness, email us at contact@alexandriawellness.com.