Are you putting in the work and not seeing the results you are after? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence that does not always have a simple answer. There is so much health, nutrition and training information out there that it is hard to know what is fact and what is a fad.

As a personal trainer/occupational therapist, I am passionate about balance, healthy eating habits, and sustainable health approaches. Here are my seven reasons why you might not be seeing your sought-after results.

1. Hidden calories: Frequently, I hear my clients say, “I don’t know why I am not losing weight; I eat very clean.” By clean, I assume that they are eating unprocessed whole foods, which is a great step in the right direction. However, calories are calories. The body essentially sees food by its caloric weight; therefore, 800 calories of raw unsalted nuts is the same as an 800-calorie donut. If you are trying to reduce body fat, my recommendation is to use a mobile app where you are able to track your calories in order to ensure your “healthy snacks” are not derailing your progress.
2. Portion sizes: Similarly, many people have the right idea about eating healthy food with good quality macro/micronutrients. However, overeating (even the “good” food) will not facilitate body fat loss. It is important to recognize the body’s signs of satiety and avoid overeating.
3. Cutting food groups: Some diets promote protocols where entire food groups are off limits or significantly reduced. While these weight-loss strategies work initially, this is often not the case in the long term for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, if the diet is not sustainable, then neither will the results be. Also, all the macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) have a specific purpose for the human body, so limiting these food sources may limit the body’s ability to perform optimally.
4. Not exercising hard enough or correctly: I first want to point out that any exercise is better than no exercise at all. However, I have to stress that you MUST work out with EFFORT and INTENSION to get results. The way you train should be specific to the goal you are trying to achieve. For example, if you want to tone up, you must resistance train, and if you want to improve functional movement, you must engage in functional training. I must also add that correct form and technique are paramount to an effective training regimen. If you are not confident that you are exercising correctly, then you should invest in a fitness professional to avoid injury.
5. Not following a sustainable approach: If you want results to be life-changing, you must make life changes. This means that you must follow a health regimen that is sustainable FOR YOU. If you are not going to drink liquid meals for the rest of your life, don’t waste time with a liquid diet. If you enjoy variety in your food, then don’t try to restrict yourself to only a few sources. Some of the best approaches to long-term health use a combination of approaches that work FOR YOU!
6. Consistency: Being consistent is probably the number one reason for people missing out on seeing their results. When we adopt a healthier lifestyle, a lot of the positive physical and mental changes occur internally before they are outwardly noticed. For many of us, we become impatient and return to our old habits before we reach this point. This is why it is so important to have other evaluation tools, such as digital body composition scans, blood tests and, most importantly, monitoring the way you feel. With consistency, the results will come – trust the process!
7. Not having support: Making a lifestyle change is difficult alone as we often revert back to old habits when our motivation is lacking. Having people around you who are supportive and are working toward the same mission can ultimately keep us consistent and on track. As a T.E.A.M., together everyone achieves more!  

If you are looking for a supportive, challenging, yet fun fitness community, be sure to contact me to join us for FOUR WEEKS OF SPRING TRAINING.

If you put in the work, you will most definitely see results!

Vernice Salveron-Gasper CPT, Partner Trainer can be reached at (321) 947-9948 or vernicesalveron@campgladiator.com. Like Camp Gladiator on Facebook and follow @campGladiator on Instagram for exclusive offers, fitness tips, pictures, events, camp updates and more! Visit the website at campGladiator.com.

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