Why You’re Not Getting Results Fast Enough - And What to Do

Yesterday I was discussing a client’s weight loss progress with her during our session. Although she was thrilled with how fantastic she felt since changing her eating and happy that the weight loss had begun, she wanted results FASTER and wondered why the weight wasn’t dropping off as quickly as she’d have liked, despite having done everything I’d told her for the last few months.

I could totally relate.

About five years ago I complained to one of my mentor’s, Paul Chek, that my abs weren’t as lean as they should be. I was pretty indignant – I’d been eating according to my Metabolic Type for nine whole months. As well as addressing exercise, stress, and other lifestyle factors.

Our ‘rule’ for how often you can cheat is usually 80/20 (that means eat well 80 percent of the time, not the other way around!) but I was more like 98/2 during those nine months.

So why wasn’t I a lean, flat-ab’d goddess?

Here’s what Paul said…

(Actually, this is the edited version. He was much more direct!)

“You’re 24 years old. That’s around 279 months of ‘unhealthy’ living, vs 9 months of correct health and nutrition…

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY TELLING ME YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ACHIEVED THE PERFECT BODY ALREADY?!!”

I suppose he had a point. I meekly retreated, determined to change that ratio further toward good health in the coming years.

It’s natural to be impatient when you’re doing all the right things.

You’re determined, you’ve done your homework and preparation and your better abs plan is underway. As much as we know deep down that slow’n’steady is the way to go with weight loss, we still all want results NOW.

Here are some reasons you may be losing weight more slowly than you could - or should - be.

1. Reduce stress – It can make you fat!

Ongoing stress causes a chain-reaction in your hormonal system. It starts with repeated stress signals causing your body to continually release cortisone and adrenaline.

What happens next is nothing short of devastating to your flat abs plan.

These hormones will cause your body to store fat regardless of how good your exercise or nutrition program is. And it’s stored especially around the belly and thighs! Make a list of everything that is causing you stress – physically, emotionally, mentally, chemically, nutritionally.

• What can you change today?
• What do you need to plan to change?
• And in which areas do you need support?

Get your stress less plan underway immediately and be on your way to better abs.2. Sneaky beverages

Guess what? Many liquids have calories! And sugar! Lots of the stuff.

Now, I know you know this, but this is definitely an area where a reminder doesn’t hurt. It’s a lot easier to convince yourself that it isn’t too naughty when it’s in liquid form. Am I right? If you regularly consume soft drinks, sweetened water, protein supplements with sugar or even fruit juice, then take a good hard look at the label and think about what you’re really doing to your body with those innocent sips.

If you can’t convince yourself to cut back totally, then at least try alternating with a glass of water every other drink.

3. You’re all go with no slow

Did you know that pushing yourself to the (frantic) max all day every day is a sure-fire way to remain overweight? This point is closely linked to what I spoke about on stress.

Being ‘on the go’ frequently will stimulate your Sympathetic Nervous System and put you in a survival pattern that leads to fat storage. This is because your body doesn’t know you’re in 2008 and assumes being on the go means you must be looking for food or running for your life. Therefore: you must need fat reserves!

You can combat this by taking time out regularly. Set aside time for relaxation exercise (yoga, body balance, meditation) or for a massage, a walk in the park, thinking and reflection time or just a nice hot bath.

Doing one of these (or your preferred) relaxation activities each day – even for 10 minutes – can help to stimulate your Parasympathetic Nervous System, allowing you to achieve hormonal and mental balance – and weight loss to boot!

4. Too much cardio exercise

I guess I’m just starting to repeat myself because this one ties directly into what you just read in point number three. Cardio exercise can be great for fitness, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to weight loss.

In fact, excess cardio exercise is just another form of stress, and can cause your body to hold onto existing fat and even to gain more fat! Try the exercises in this post as a powerful fat-burning alternative. Exercises for great bums’n’tums

5. Stuck on snacking when you don’t need it.

Are you snacking just because food is there or because a certain mid-morning coffee break signals a ‘need’ for a muffin?

It’s easy to convince yourself you need food between meals, but how often is it really true? I’m not saying never, but I do think that snacking is a bit of an overrated habit.

Experience tells me that when you include a natural balance of carbohydrate, protein and fat at your main meals, you’ll find yourself satisfied on less food, for longer. Don’t be a coffee break Pavlov’s dog any longer – try cutting back on any of your naughty mid-meal habits, or replace them with a healthy alternative. But only if you are truly hungry.

Finally, remember this…

Although the points we’ve just discussed may seem secondary to good exercise and nutrition, they are incredibly powerful. And without addressing each and every aspect of a flat abs plan, you’ll be left agonising over a body that still isn’t doing quite what you expect it to.