Why Can't I See Results Pt. 2

This follow-up blog discusses more possible reasons you aren't seeing the results you're after or they're taking far longer than you expected!  

1. Thinking Too Big

Expectations can get the best of us and can really deter people on their health and fitness journeys. Expecting too much too soon can damage your confidence and make you underestimate yourself. Setting realistic goals doesn't mean you're being under-ambitious, they are stepping stones that can later turn into even larger goals. Surprisingly, mental impact to your progress can be just as debilitating as physical impact. If you find yourself upset that you are taking longer than expected to achieve 'big' goals, set achievable ones that will help pave the way to the big ones. P.s: compete with yourself and only yourself on your health and fitness journey!  

2. Overtraining

Overtraining is actually a thing, it can be hard to determine if you're overtraining because a lot of the time, a person who trains a lot is simply dedicated. Rest and recovery are just as important as the actual training session and it's very possible to overtrain. If you do not give your body much needed rest after a long series of intense workouts, your body won't produce the lean muscle you're trying to build. It will actually do the opposite by burning off muscle. Overtraining can bring you to the brink of exhaustion and will push you further from your goals. So, always be sure you get in some R & R, listen to your body and don't overwork yourself.

3. Sacrificing Good Form

Even with the right sets of exercises and the right workout plan, it will only work its best if you do them properly. Biting off more than you can chew, AKA lifting heavier than you can handle can be increasingly negative to your progress. For example: If you're squatting heavier than you're capable of, you're very prone to injuring yourself. Also, only using the wrong body parts to perform the exercise. Your legs are the main body part that helps you squat, but if the weight is too heavy for you some of the strain may shift to your lower back!  

4. Condiments

Back to the nutrition side of things. You would be surprised by how the nutritional content of your meal can change if you add some sauce. Even something as standard as salt can dramatically increase the sodium content of a meal and make it not-so-healthy. If you season your food while cooking, try and avoid over seasoning it at the end when the meal is done. P.S, did you know an average serving of tomato sauce has 4g of sugar. This doesn't seem like a big deal but when you realise this means that a third of a tomato sauce bottle is made up of sugar it changes the picture!  

5. Not Enough Sleep 

One of the scary side effects of a lack of sleep is the possibility of weight gain. Lack of sleep is linked to hunger and appetite. One study shows that those that got less than 6 hours a night were 30% more likely to develop obesity compared to those who slept 7-9 hours! If you train at night and feel restless, try adding a few drops of lavender oil to your pillow to calm you down.