Help! I’m Struggling to Lose Weight

It looks so easy for everyone else. If only you were more disciplined or ate a little less or exercised a little more, you could finally reach your weight goals.

Sound familiar? This is the story many people tell themselves when they struggle to lose weight. But you’re not alone. The fact is that weight loss isn’t easy. 

At A&U Family Medicine in Sugar Land, Texas, Dr. Hammad Zaidi knows the struggles you face when it comes to losing weight, and he wants you to understand that it’s not you. Here, we explain some of the reasons you may be struggling to lose weight successfully and describe how medical weight loss can help.

The truth about weight loss

If you want to lose weight, you need to figure out how to change your calorie equation so your body is burning more calories than you consume. You do this by eating less, moving more, or both. 

That’s the general gist of weight loss, but it’s not that simple. 

Many factors influence your weight, and some make it harder for you to eat less, move more, or drop those unwanted pounds when you do the right things. Some factors you have control over, but not all, like your genetics, gender, and age. Your underlying health, the type of medications you take, your eating habits, and your lifestyle also influence your weight.

It’s not just about creating a negative calorie balance, but understanding the factors that affect your weight. When you know where you stand, you can make adjustments to your approach that take these factors into consideration in order to reach your weight goals. 

Working on lifestyle changes

You can’t change your genes or your gender, but making a few changes to your lifestyle can help you with your weight loss struggle. We’re not talking about drastic changes like throwing away every loaf of bread and box of pasta in the house, but you can do little things that lead to major gains — or losses, in this case.

Lifestyle changes to help you get off the weight loss struggle bus:

• Aim for 7 hours of sleep a night. Lack of sleep increases appetite, so you eat more. Getting more sleep tames your hunger, making it easier for you to stick to a balanced eating plan.
• Find ways to reduce stress. Stress also triggers your appetite. Find ways to reduce stress, such as exercising, meditating, or writing in a journal.
• Add activity into your day. Find ways to increase activity throughout the day like parking at the far end of the lot or moving around when talking on the phone.
• Drink more water. Staying hydrated keeps your energy levels up. Drinking water before a meal also fills you up, helping you eat less.

Eating more protein may also help with weight loss. Protein foods are more satiating and burn a few extra calories during digestion. 

Getting expert weight loss help

No matter where you are on your weight loss journey, you don’t have to do it alone. And you shouldn’t. If your weight is affecting your health, you need professional help to reach your goals.

We offer a physician-supervised weight loss program, creating personalized plans that factor in all the issues that make weight loss a struggle. We provide ongoing support and help with lifestyle changes, and we prescribe weight loss medications when appropriate. 

It’s not you. Weight loss is a struggle. Let us help you reach your goals. Schedule an appointment by calling A&U Family Medicine today at 281-895-7703 or by booking online.