(Ladies) 3 Surprising Reasons Why You May Be Having A Hard Time Losing Weight

Oh yes, the weight loss struggle is real. Especially for women. Nothing is more frustrating than when you can’t lose weight – and despite your best efforts, dropping those extra pounds feels next to impossible.

Does this sound like you? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything, but are still struggling to lose weight?

You’re eating healthy and exercising regularly, so what gives? The reasons why you can’t lose weight may surprise you. And they have nothing to do with diet or exercise.
 
 

Here Are 3 Surprising Reasons Women Can’t Lose Weight and How to Fix Them:

 

1. Not Enough Vitamin D

Yep, we’re talking about the sunlight vitamin, ladies. According to a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health, older women with low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to gain weight compared to women who have normal Vitamin D levels.

Researchers explain that there are several ways Vitamin D is linked to weight gain. Since fat cells contain Vitamin D receptors, “Vitamin D could affect where fat cells shrink or get bigger,” says Erin LeBlanc, MD, endocrinologist and researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon.

“There is a lot that goes into Vitamin D levels: sun exposure, age, diet, pigmentation,” LeBlanc explains.

If you can’t lose weight, it might be time to soak up some sun (with sunscreen protection, of course).
 

 
 
How to Get More Vitamin D:
Aside from the Vitamin D our bodies produce from sunlight, Vitamin D can be found in milk, salmon, tuna, and other types of fish. However, it can be hard to get the amount of Vitamin D we need from food alone. This is why supplements are a great option if you’re struggling to lose weight.
 

2. High Levels of Cortisol

Cortisol: the big bad stress hormone. It’s no secret that stress leads to a wide variety of health problems – weight gain being one of the big ones. And excessive stress can also be a primary reason why women can’t lose weight.

However, what many women don’t realize is that they need to go directly to the source of the stress. This means lowering their cortisol levels. Cortisol is scientifically-proven to cause an increase in appetite.

Your cortisol levels will naturally increase during stressful times, and “this can turn your overeating into a habit,” WebMD reports. “Because increased levels of the hormone also help cause higher insulin levels, your blood sugar drops and you crave sugary, fatty foods.”

The Secret to Reducing Stress Naturally:
The mind and body are intrinsically linked. By maintaining a healthy mental state, your physical health will improve and vice versa.

When you’re feeling stressed:

• Exercise to release endorphins
• Journal daily to process your thoughts
• Practice mindfulness to become more balanced

 
Need more stress relief? Try Yoga For Stress Relief: De-Stress With This 30-Minute Yoga Sequence
 

3. Underactive Thyroid

When women have hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland in the neck fails to produce enough thyroxine, a hormone that controls energy and metabolism.

Dr. Josh Axe, naturopathic doctor, explains “These hormones can be thrown out of whack by many issues. From a diet with too much or too little iodine, to toxicity from amalgam fillings, to an undiagnosed medical condition, the thyroid can produce too much or too little T4, impacting your metabolism.”

How to Balance Your Hormones:
Even if you are eating healthy, your body may be lacking the nutrients it needs to function properly.

“Instead of turning to hormone replacement therapies with the use of pharmaceuticals, natural hormones using animal hormones or, in extreme cases, surgery, first look at any nutritional deficiencies you may have that are contributing to an imbalance, like iodine or toxicity from things like amalgam fillings in your teeth,” Axe adds.
 

 
 

Now You Know Why You Can’t Lose Weight, So Take Back Control of Your Body

Now that you’re empowered with this information, you can go out and make all the adjustments that you need to finally stop struggling to lose weight!

Did you identify with any reasons on this list? Are there any that surprised you? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

The post (Ladies) 3 Surprising Reasons Why You May Be Having A Hard Time Losing Weight appeared first on YogiApproved™.

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