Picture this: you’ve cut out takeaways and have been eating well for months. You’ve even started swimming three times per week. You feel great—yet the numbers on the scale haven’t moved.
It’s something we hear all the time at Voy: I’m making all these positive changes, so why aren’t I losing weight?
There’s a few possible explanations here, and understanding them can help you decide how to move forward. We’ve broken them down for you below.
But before we get into it, we just want to say: every weight loss journey has its ups and downs, and progress plateaus are common. We know that it’s super demoralising not to see your efforts pay off, but it doesn't mean that you won’t reach your health goals. Keep at it—we know you’ll get there.
Why am I not losing weight in a calorie deficit?
It’s true that to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. Yet it’s not as straightforward as weight loss equals calories in minus calories out.
Your body is very intelligent and adaptable to change. When you’re in a prolonged calorie deficit, your body reduces the rate at which you burn energy making it harder to lose weight. This can result in a weight loss plateau.
It happens because your body can see calorie restriction as cause for alarm (read: that you’re in danger of starving). So, it kicks into survival mode to conserve energy and keep you from losing more. Another thing that might happen is an increase of gut hormones that drive appetite, to try and get you to regain that weight.
As part of our weight loss programme, our coaches will help you find a nutritious eating plan that works for you.
Why am I not losing weight when I exercise?
Exercise is a super important part of a healthy lifestyle. Though research shows that on its own, it doesn’t always lead to weight loss.
Yes, moving your body means that you’re using more energy—but people do tend to compensate for that by eating more to meet those needs.
Plus, we don’t actually burn a huge amount of calories from exercise itself. For example, someone with a lower level of fitness who was exercising intensely for an hour might burn 250 calories—which you could eat in a matter of minutes.
That doesn’t mean you should skip your workouts, though! Exercise keeps you strong and healthy: it reduces your risk of illness, improves sleep and mental health, and more. And it plays a role in weight loss by improving your metabolic health: for example, by building muscle and increasing the amount of energy your body uses at rest.
Try to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement (like hiking or cycling) plus two strength sessions per week.
Weight loss and alcohol
Raising a glass now and again probably won’t have much of an impact on your weight. But because alcoholic drinks tend to be high in calories, enjoying them more regularly might. Moderate drinking also tends to enhance appetite —which could lead you to eat more.
It can have knock-on effects for your metabolism, too. Alcohol can not only disrupt your body’s process of burning fat but also lead fat to build up around your middle.
Finally, having a few drinks can mess with your sleep, which also influences weight loss (more on that below).
Weight loss and health conditions
Some health issues can cause weight gain—and make extra pounds harder to lose.
Hypothyroidism
Also known as an underactive thyroid, a gland whose job is to produce hormones that control your metabolism. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough of said hormones, it can disrupt important processes like fat burning and the rate at which your body uses energy. Ultimately, this can lead to weight gain.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
There are three main features of PCOS. It can cause irregular periods and excess levels of too many “male” hormones, aka androgens. High androgen levels can contribute to weight gain around the middle. With PCOS, your ovaries may also become enlarged and contain many follicles (fluid-filled sacs) that surround the eggs.
But it’s estimated that most people with PCOS also have insulin resistance, where the body becomes less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This means that less sugar can be absorbed from the blood and used as energy— and the excess sugar can then be stored as fat.
Insulin resistance and diabetes
Insulin resistance is also linked to diabetes (it’s usually associated with type 2) and can be a condition on its own. It contributes to weight gain in the way we explained above.
Medications that cause weight gain
And then there are certain medications that can bring on weight gain as a side effect. Some antipsychotics, antidepressants, and blood pressure medicines fall into this category.
In some cases, there might be an alternative treatment you can try. Check in with your provider for advice.
Sleep and weight loss
Did you know that how well you sleep can affect your weight, too? Yep—when you’re deprived of sleep, it affects hormones which control your appetite.
The result is that you’re more likely to crave high-calorie options and eat more, possibly to try and ease your fatigue. Plus, when you’re tired, it’s harder to exercise self-control. That means you’re more likely to cave in to those impulses.
Poor sleep is also linked to a reduced metabolic rate, which means that you’re burning fewer calories—so, it’s harder for you to lose weight.
Other reasons you can’t lose weight
You’re stressed
You’ve probably heard of cortisol, the hormone that’s released when you’re stressed. When its levels are high, this can promote the build-up of fat around your middle and bring on cravings for comfort foods—i.e. those high in fat and sugar.
You aren’t staying consistent
Losing weight is a long game. To see results, you have to repeat the same healthy behaviours, again and again. And if your motivation dips for whatever reason, you might stray from your path.
Try to come up with a plan that’s realistic and gels with your schedule, and to hold yourself accountable for keeping it up. We know that you can do it!
Could weight loss medications help?
If anything we’ve just said struck a chord with you, we get it—losing weight can be super tough, especially when you’re trying your best but aren’t getting results.
Weight loss medications can be a good option here if a healthcare provider says they are suitable for you. They work by making you feel full, so you eat less. They’re not a quick fix. You’ll still need to address the lifestyle factors we mentioned above. But when taken alongside changes to your diet and regular exercise, some people report losing up to 25% of their starting weight.
You’ll get weekly medication, like Mounjaro or Wegovy, plus support from our coaches and access to an app to follow your progress, as part of our weight loss programme. And we’ll be right here with you the whole time, cheering you on! Find out if you’re eligible by filling out this short form. We’ll let you know within minutes.
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