When it comes to losing weight, the journey is never linear.
And while you may be doing all of the right things, i.e. tracking macros, working out, getting enough sleep, you may feel like you’re not making progress quickly enough… or even at all.
In this blog, we chat with one of the most popular Los Angeles Personal Trainers, Matt Salem of The Training Loft, about a few of the reasons you may not be losing weight like you want to be.
Let’s dive in!
Reason #1: Your Priorities are Off
t starting out on your weight loss journey, it can be tempting to focus on all of the wrong things.
Shopping for the latest activewear brand?
Taking a daily gym selfie?
While it’s fun to motivate yourself with a new gym outfit, and track your progress through pictures, these shallow motivators can hinder your progress, rather than help it.
As The Training Loft L.A. Trainer says,
“If you’re trying to lose weight, your goal is to create a “You” that you’re proud of. To be successful that needs to remain the priority, not swiping your credit card, taking selfies, or anything else that doesn’t completely support your goals.”
Keep your eye on the prize and stick to the basics. Hitting the fundamentals consistently – a healthy diet, in gym training, 8 hours of sleep – along with old-fashioned hard work will help you shed pounds faster.
Reason #2: You Don’t Have a Plan
We’ve mentioned a few times already about getting the basics right, but what exactly are the basics you should be following?
As Matt Salem of The Training Loft says,
“Nobody walks in off the street, picks up a kettlebell, and chisels the body of their dreams.”
Although, it would be nice wouldn’t it!
Instead, you need a plan.
We recommend working with a professional personal trainer who can tailor a full body plan for your unique goals and lifestyle.
Your plan should take into consideration everything that makes you, you – including your training level, body mass, fat mass, your nutrition, lifestyle, range of motion, history of injuries, and more.
If you’re not losing weight, its probably time to hire a professional to help you put a proven plan – based on the above attributes – together.
The only thing left for you to do will be to stick to it!
Reason #3: You Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Food
Finally, the last reason you may not be hitting your weight loss goals is because you don’t have a healthy relationship with food.
Here’s the crux of weight loss: you cannot out-train a bad diet.
Nutrition matters!
However, you also can’t lose weight or build muscle by starving yourself.
Sure, you may lose a few pounds at first, but it won’t last. And you’ll hit a plateau. (Sound familiar?)
Even worse, you’ll be doing lasting damage to your body and brain that will make future weight loss even more of an uphil body.
L.A. Personal Trainer Matt Salem says,
“Believe it or not, starving yourself can actually cause your metabolism to slow down. That’s about the worst thing that can happen when you’re trying to lose weight. When exercising to lose weight, not only do you need to eat, but you need to eat right. Food is not the enemy.”
The Training Loft in Los Angeles teaches clients to work with food instead of fighting against it. You can read more about their philosophy here.
Summing It Up
So there, you have it: three reasons why you may not be shedding pounds like you want to.
If you’re dedicated to making better progress, find a professional to help you make a personalized gym plan, ditch the gym selfies, and dial in your nutrition.
Finally, stay the course. Weight loss isn’t linear!
