1.) You may not have enough muscle
The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Fat and muscle tissues consume calories all day long whether you’re running, reading or sleeping. No matter what you’re doing, muscle rips through more calories than fat. So it’s not just about jumping on the treadmill for half an hour. Strength working is also an important part of any weight 
loss programme. In fact studies have shown that adding muscle building workouts as well as cardio workouts is best for losing weight!
If you do not get enough exercise your body muscles become weaker and this will in turn affect your body’s capacity to work efficiently. The heart and lungs also get diminished without exercise because the stronger they are, the more blood will circulate through the body. You become at risk of being overweight, your muscles don’t develop making you more prone to injury, your energy levels are lower, and you are more prone to sickness and disease.
2.) You don’t drink enough water
The benefits of drinking enough water are huge! It helps in weight loss, clearing up skin problems and maintaining blood sugar levels, as well as MANY others. Start replacing all of your beverages with water and start making yourself drink 2 litres of water a day. You’ll also notice you feel fresher when you wake up in the mornings. Be sure to space it out over the course of the day – don’t just sit there and drink 2 litres of water, as that can be a health hazard.
If you do not drink enough water, you may experience digestive problems, dry mouth and skin, low energy levels and joint problems. You may also have an abdominal bloat, tearless crying and poor heat tolerance. Water is important for regulation of temperature, removal of wastes, transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the cells as well as protection of body tissues. Water is essential to life. Our organs and tissues need it to perform their vital functions. Even with good intentions, it can be challenging to keep yourself well hydrated. Carrying a refillable bottle so you always have fresh drinking water on hand is an excellent strategy. If you’re working out, particularly in warm weather, drink water before, during and after you exercise. If plain water is unappealing to you, try adding a slice of lemon or lime. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration and treat it by replacing fluids before it escalates in severity. Dark yellow or amber coloured urine is a strong indicator of dehydration and may be present with some or all of the following symptoms: dry mouth, thirst, fatigue, dry skin, headache, constipation, decreased urine and dizziness.
3.) You might skip meals
Skipping a meal seems like it would be a sensible way to save on some calories. Sure, it may cut calories but it slows down your metabolism and kicks your body into starvation mode. This causes the body to cling to fat because it feels it needs to in order to survive. The truth is, smaller regular meals is the best method, as it keeps your body in gear throughout the day, as opposed to stopping and starting between large less frequent meals.
For decades health care experts held the belief that skipping meals would lead to weight gain. The thought was that the body would think that it was starving and go into a sort of shock that would cause excess calories to be stored as fat, so that in the event that food was scarce, the body would survive.
The theory behind this is true, however, it seems that people have taken this to the extreme, thinking that if they skip one or two meals, that they will start packing on weight because the body thinks it’s starving. However, this survival mechanism takes 
some time to kick in. Just skipping one or two meals won’t cause the body to start stockpiling fat immediately. The affect of skipping meals has been discussed for years, but recent studies have shown that if done properly, fasting can have a variety of health benefits. If not done safely however, it can be dangerous, even deadly. One study published by the medical journal, Metabolism, suggested that when people of normal weight and blood sugar skipped meals, but didn’t reduce their caloric intake, they increased their risk of diabetes. The study particularly focused on those who eat a large meal in the evening, between 4-8 p.m. This means if someone skipped breakfast and lunch, but ate a huge dinner, they would have a higher risk of developing diabetes.
The reason for this is that when one large meal is eaten, the body experiences a blood sugar spike that it can’t process. This is especially true if the calories are consumed in the evening. If a person eats a big dinner and then goes to bed, the excess blood sugar isn’t used in daily activities like working or exercising. So the sugar is stored as fat for use by the body at a later time. This is part of the reason people tend to gain weight over the holidays. Over a long period of time, this could lead to obesity.
Fasting becomes a problem when it is taken to extreme or is done for too long a period of time. There have been a number of stories in the news over the years that demonstrate what happens when someone takes skipping meals too far. Several supermodels have died of starvation because they existed on as little as two pieces of lettuce or an apple a day over several months, leading several fashion show organizers to call for restrictions on how thin models can be.
The body needs certain nutrients in order to function. Severely restricting a diet over a long period of time deprives the body of those nutrients and eventually, body functions will just shut down.
4.) Lack of sleep can affect your weight
Think you’re doing yourself a favour by skipping sleep so you can workout more? The truth is, you’d be better off staying in bed and finishing that sleep cycle because studies have shown that more sleep equals a healthier waistline.
Over time, lack of sleep and sleep disorders can contribute to the symptoms of depression. Most people have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But it turns out that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, human growth hormone promotes growth. As we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones.
It’s during deep sleep that growth hormone is released. It seems to be part of normal tissue repair – patching the wear and tear of the day. When it comes to body weight, it may be that if you snooze, you lose. Lack of sleep seems to be related to an increase in hunger and appetite, and possibly to obesity. According to a 2004 study, people who sleep less than six hours a day were almost 30 percent more likely to become obese than those who slept seven to nine hours. Not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite. It also stimulates cravings for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods. Ongoing studies are considering whether adequate sleep should be a standard part of weight loss programs.
5.) Too much stress
When you are under too much stress, your body begins to produce cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone that worsens insulin resistance and promotes the storage of fat! There may be nothing you can do to stop the stressful situation but try to find a relaxing outlet
to help you deal with it.
Worrying affects your daily life so much that it interferes with your appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep, and job performance. Many people who worry excessively are so anxiety-ridden that they seek relief in harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating, cigarette smoking, or using alcohol and drugs.
When the excessive fuel in the blood isn’t used for physical activities, the chronic anxiety and outpouring of stress hormones can have serious physical consequences, including:
- Suppression of the immune system
- Digestive disorders
- Muscle tension
- Short-term memory loss
- Premature coronary artery disease
- Heart Attack
6.) Taking medicine
A host of drugs that treat diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, inflammatory disease and more affect weight regulation. Some will make you hungrier and others stimulate your body to store fat. And if a drug affects the brain, there’s a good chance it affects weight. You’ve been watching your diet and following your usual exercise routine. But your pants seem a little tight and, sure enough, the scale shows that you’ve gained five pounds in the past month. This may be hard to swallow, but a medication your doctor prescribed could be to blame. Certain prescription drugs used to treat mood disorders, seizures, migraines, diabetes, and even high blood pressure can cause weight gain – sometimes 10 pounds a month. Some steroids, hormone replacement therapy, and oral contraceptives can also cause unwanted pounds to creep up on you. If you suspect a prescription medication is causing weight gain, never stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor; stopping some of these medications on your own can have very serious consequences.
Total Body Tone – OUT NOW
The Why Weight Ireland Total Body Tone DVD is NOW ON SALE – Purchase your copy today by clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button.
Some of the fantastic comments made about the Total Body Tone DVD:
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Much better than my Jillian Michael’s DVD
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Can’t believe how many calories I burnt
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Best workout I’ve ever done
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Amazing that I can do a full class workout from home
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Much longer than any of my other workout DVDS
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I attended some of Hannah’s classes when they first began and I loved them but unfortunately due to shift work I just wasn’t able to fit them in. I was so happy when I could purchase the DVD and wow it is like being in Hannah’s classes all over again! I do a half hr work out a day and I suffer from the same complaints I did when in her classes i.e. sweating, sore joints the following day!:) I can really see how this DVD will benefit me already!
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