Can’t lose weight no matter what I do

You’ve done diet after diet. You’ve followed all the rules diligently, but the number on the scale isn’t changing. You feel like you can’t lose weight no matter what you do.

Well, the good news and the bad news is that you’re not alone.

Young woman getting food out of fridge for a late night snack

It’s estimated that 45 million Americans go on diets each year, and more than half of them fail, sometimes gaining back even more weight than they had lost (if any).  As of now, two-thirds of America is considered overweight or obese. This puts two-thirds of the population at a much higher risk of preventable and potentially lethal conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, among many others.

Why can’t you lose weight?

If you are stuck, if you’ve said to yourself, “I can’t lose weight no matter what I do,” and have all but given up, you might discover that your habits (aside from diet and exercise, of course) may be more to blame than you think. Hypnosis can help you extinguish bad habits for good and boost your weight loss journey.

Below, find three lifestyle habits that may fall under the radar when it comes to weight loss, and learn how hypnosis can help you fight temptations and take control.

Sleep is essential

Sleep is important for much more than your daily energy levels. Proper sleep quality and quantity can help you manage your weight more effectively, too.

The further you deprive yourself of sleep, the more cortisol your body produces. And the more cortisol your body produces, the more your appetite is increased. Cortisol is the stress hormone, and is linked to “stress eating” when it is heightened in the body. Around seven to eight hours of quality sleep a night can help you regulate your hormone levels. After a couple of weeks of an improved sleep schedule, you may notice yourself staying fuller longer after meals, and not having as many cravings.

When we refer to “quality sleep”, we refer to uninterrupted, quiet, undisturbed sleep periods. This allows the body to fall into its most natural rhythms so you feel your best waking up.  Pay attention to your bedtime habits before you actually fall asleep. Limit screen time, and make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.

Is breakfast important?

 Over the years, studies have shown that the breakfast-metabolism myth is actually false. Eating breakfast alone has not been proven to boost your metabolism. However, skipping breakfast can cause you to feel sluggish early on in the day, a time where you should feel energized. To regulate your body and eating habits, try eating small meals throughout the day.

People who make a habit of eating breakfast have been proven to display healthier habits overall. You will be much hungrier when lunchtime rolls around if you hadn’t yet had breakfast, and this can easily lead to a tendency to overeat.

So, skipping breakfast may not directly lead to weight gain, but including breakfast every day can help you develop healthy behaviors when it comes to your diet.

Give that second drink a second guess

 If you have trouble losing weight and are also a casual drinker, have you considered making modifications to your alcohol consumption habits?

Alcohol is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to “empty calories”, or calorie-dense foods/drinks with no nutritional value. When considering what you’ve eaten today or what you’ll eat tomorrow, factor alcohol in. A glass of Chardonnay, for example, can contain around 150 calories, which is the same amount of calories contained in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Calorie amounts in beer can range from 60 to over 400 per serving. Alcohol also has a negative relationship with your metabolism – the higher the alcohol content of your drink is, the slower metabolism moves.

When considering the best alcoholic drinks for weight management, choose something with minimal sugars. A cocktail of a clear spirit (vodka or gin) and naturally sugarless seltzer with a citrus wedge is your safest bet.

Hypnosis is not a “diet”

 Hypnosis has been, for centuries, more than just a cheap party trick. It’s all about mind control. Hypnosis is a great way to create a healthy lifestyle as opposed to a healthy diet. Hypnosis is more likely to make your weight loss really stick, because you are adapting yourself in the process. If you’re interested in a quick weight loss fix, hypnosis might not be for you.

Remember, if you’re looking for a self-guided hypnosis program, make sure you choose one with proper certification.

Final thoughts

 If you’re stuck on a weight loss plateau and tired of feeling like nothing is working, think about your lifestyle habits and how hypnosis can help you. Sure, you can go the whole day following the rules of a good diet, but if all the pieces of your lifestyle puzzle don’t fit together, your weight may suffer.