Feel like you’re sticking to your diet relentlessly, but the scale is giving you the cold shoulder?
Yep, we’ve all been there. That scale can really mess with our mind if we let it and aren’t sure what’s happening. Here’s what’s likely messing with your mojo:
Issue #1: You’re playing calorie catch.
Issue #2: Your “just right” is more like “just wrong.”
Or, what the heck, it could be a combo of the two. So let’s break it down.
Let’s say you’ve got your daily calorie count down to a T, eyeballing a 500-calorie daily deficit. Enough to shed about 500g per week, right? You’re feeling good, even pencilling in room for two glasses of your favourite wine. Life’s sweet.
Hold on, though. Those “two glasses” you pour? They’re in your favourite glass, it’s B-I-G and well it is Friday – each glass is a whopping 250ml, which is 200 calories, not the standard 150ml, 125-calorie deal. You just unknowingly hosted a 150-calorie surprise party in your liver.
Glass shape and size matter and show why it’s important to measure. What gets measured gets managed!
And let’s talk about weekends…
So, you dial for takeout from the best Thai Restaurant (hey, you’ve got guests). You pick Thai Coconut Lime Chicken, ’cause it sounds like it took a health vow. It’s packed with veggies, rice, coconut… We all know coconut is healthy right? Well that’s what we’ve been told!
Plot twist: it’s 1,980 calories. Add your extended wine session and BAM! Your weekly 3,500-calorie deficit dwindles to a measly 70.
No weight loss? No kidding.
But wait, there’s another plot twist – Issue #2
Your own bod might be the wildcard. A few examples:
► Your basal metabolic rate can swing by 15%. That’s 200-270 calories, peeps.
► Lose sleep? Your metabolism can slow by 5-20%, another 200-500 calories.
► Ladies, your menstrual cycle can gift you an extra 150 calories.
Bottom line? Calorie targets aren’t gospel. They’re starting blocks. Give it 2-3 weeks; if your weight’s stalling, tweak your game plan.
And don’t just slash calories. Maybe you need more shut-eye or a bit more hustle in your step.
This is why working with a nutrition coach like yours truly can be a game-changer. Why play calorie detective alone when you can have your very own Sherlock?