Why is it Such a Struggle to Stay Slim?

Obesity is an issue in many developed nations, with more and more people becoming obese and developing weight-related health problems, which is putting health services under great strain. Although there are individuals who seem to have no difficulty staying slim, for many others it is extremely difficult. Perhaps, it should come as no surprise in a society where there are so many opportunities to eat calorific food and to avoid any kind of physical activity, as well as the societal expectations about weight, beauty and success which exist.

It is a slim physique that is most admired in the Western world, but with greater numbers of obese individuals, many people are left feeling dissatisfied with their appearance. However, instead of taking steps to lose weight there are plenty of individuals who turn to food. Junk food, in particular, can give you a boost because it is crammed full of sugar that gives you a high and makes you want more. This type of food is also calorific, though, and so whilst it might make you feel better about your situation temporarily, in the long run it will only make it worse.

Fast food is everywhere you go and it is so cheap that it is easy to give into temptation. Even though you know it is bad for you, you are aware of how good it tastes. When all your friends and relatives regularly eat junk food and fast food, you soon get into the habit of doing so, too, unless you actually make a real effort to stop yourself. You may not see the point in doing so, though, because eating junk food in large quantities becomes your normality. If this is normal to you, you may not even question what your eating habits are doing to your weight and your health.

What makes the situation worse is that if you don't do any exercise, you won't be burning as many calories as you could if you went for a run every day or took up a sport. If exercise isn't a normal part of your day, then you have to make the effort to get out of your comfort zone and do something that requires you to expend a bit of energy. If all you do is drive everywhere and sit around watching television all of the time, clearly you can't expect to eat whatever you want and not gain weight.

The only way to avoid weight gain is to find the right balance between the amount of calories you consume and the amount your body expends. This is something many people are failing to do, which may be because they don't care that much or it could be that they are ignorant of how their weight could affect their health or of the habits which are needed to remain slim. Either way, in a society where high-calorie food is readily available for relatively little cost and where you don't have to do any exercise if you prefer not to, weight gain is inevitable unless you take action to control your weight.

Why do so Many People Struggle to Lose Weight?

Losing weight really shouldn’t be that difficult, yet there are plenty of people struggling to shift their excess weight. The weight-loss industry is prospering as many individuals continue to search for a way to lose weight quickly which won’t require them to fundamentally change the way they live their lives. Unfortunately, though, to lose weight you have to change your eating and exercise habits, because this is the only way you’re going to lose weight and actually have a chance of keeping it off.

Junk food is cheap, convenient and tasty
One of the main difficulties people have to face when attempting to lose weight is sticking to a calorie-controlled diet. In order to lose weight you have to consume fewer calories than your body burns, but this isn’t always easy when you have a taste for calorific junk food. Junk food is crammed full of sugar and fat, and eating it may give your energy levels a temporary boost and make you feel good. It can therefore be a struggle to resist the temptation of junk food, which obviously affects your ability to reduce your calorie intake by enough to build up a calorie deficit.


Fad diets promise rapid results
When you have quite a few pounds to lose, you want to be able to see a difference straightaway. You want to know that the steps you’ve taken are paying off, because you need something to keep you motivated. If you don’t lose weight as quickly as you’d like it becomes much easier to just give up on your weight loss plans. Consequently, you can find yourself turning to fad diets to help you shed your excess weight. Doing so will not help you to manage your weight in the long term, though, as you basically trade one set of bad eating habits for another and when you come off your diet you simply go back to your old way of doing things, anyway.


It is easier to watch television than go for a run
An inactive lifestyle can also make it more of a struggle for people to lose weight. All too often individuals become obsessed with dieting and forget the importance of keeping active. To maximise your weight loss it is important to make time for exercise. If you’re going to be able to keep active, you have to eat healthily, though, as otherwise you simply won’t have the energy needed to do anything.

Getting the balance right
To achieve weight loss success you basically have to get the balance right between the number of calories you put into your body and the number of calories your body expends. You need to be realistic about how much weight you can expect to lose, so that you can eat enough food to ensure you get a wide range of nutrients and so you have the fuel needed to do some exercise.