Why can’t I lose weight?

First, let’s start with this. YOU CAN! Chances are, you are just going about it the wrong way. 

To lose weight, in theory, is easy. Move more, eat less. 

In reality, it is a lot more complicated than that. Moving more can require you to eat more. Eating less can lead to you eating more. Eating less can lead to you NEEDING to eat more. Moving more can lead to you needing to move less. You get the idea. 

So let’s break this down and try to keep it as simply as possible for you. 

Find a diet that works for you, and stick to that. 

  • Does paleo work? It sure does, for some people, but not for others. 
  • Does fasting work? It sure does, for some people, but not for others. 
  • Does keto work? It sure does, for some people, but not for others. 
  • Does counting macros work? It sure does, for some people, but not for others. 

The thing that makes ALL of these things work, is people getting in, and staying in a calorie deficit. As being in a calorie deficit is what makes us lose fat. Keto does not make us lose fat. Eating Keto in a calorie deficit makes us lose fat. Paleo does not make us lose fat, being in a calorie deficit whilst on a paleo diet is what makes us lose fat. The reason these work for some, and not for others, is because some people find these ways of eating make it easier for them to remain in a calorie deficit on a consistent basis. 

So find what works for you. As long as it doesn’t put your long term health in jeopardy, stick to it. IF you can keep it up long term, stick to it. Don’t try and ‘diet’ all year round. It is okay to go a little harder on the weight loss every now and again, just remember that you want it to be a long term game, so always have a plan for after that hard phase of ‘dieting’ is over. 

The same for training. Find what works for you and stick to it. 

  • Will cross fit help me lose weight? It sure will, for some people, but not for others.
  • Will powerlifting help me lose weight?  It sure will, for some people, but not for others.
  • Will high intense group training help me lose weight? It sure will, for some people, but not for others.
  • Will bodybuilding training help me lose weight? It sure will, for some people, but not for others.

Again, the thing that makes each type of training work for those that it works for, is that they stick to it. They are consistent. They turn up each and every week. 

So find something that you enjoy enough to turn up to each and every week, the results will come. 

If they don’t, then you probably need to dive in a little deeper and that’s when seeing a professional; a dietitian or a personal trainer or both, might really help get you moving in the right direction.