Why a workout routine, isn’t working out

The huge industry promoting health and weight loss has never been as influential, as it is today. Books, videos, websites and social media pages, informing people of the different ways to stay healthy and fit, are aimed to help millions of people achieve their fitness goals. There are countless testimonies of effective weight loss methods with ‘before and after’ photos displaying the difference a weight loss program makes in a certain period of time. Yet with a lot of information provided about health and fitness, it’s still a little confusing when there’s absolutely no progress or effect seen after following these workout routines. For as many websites, books and videos there are out there, promoting different exercise tips, there are as many individuals confused and puzzled about why they aren’t seeing or feeling like they have reduced down any fat, regardless of how much they have worked out.

Time and time again, the world of fitness and health has provided new and interesting ways to help people lose weight. What first began as fitness workout videos on VHS tapes are now millions of workout videos on social media. The Internet has been the perfect nest for the fitness and health world to evolve into a machine of losing weight methods, reduce fat tips, and exercise tips. From different diet tips, different workout routines claiming to be the ‘fastest’ method to lose weight, to thousands upon thousands of tips all telling people what to do to lose weight. But what is often not discussed is why a workout, isn’t working out.

What are you doing wrong?

There are several reasons why, even after a month to three months of committing to a lose weight method, people are still finding no significant progress towards their goals.

1. Not eating right

If the end goal is to lose weight and to live a healthier lifestyle, continuous exercise is not enough to achieve this goal. Committing to a workout will not be enough to shred that added weight. Eating right is just as important. The calories we consume through the food we eat every day is what gives us the energy to function, workout and burn fat. And if we eat more calories than what our bodies burn off, the excess calories are stored in our bodies as fat. It’s the natural response our bodies have to the excessive amount of food we eat. So if a person is eating more calories than they are burning every day, they will see absolutely no difference in their fat mass, even after months of working out.

On the other side of the spectrum, a person may also not be eating enough to actually burn fat. Another misconception is that to lose weight, one must eat as little calories as possible. If the body doesn't have enough calories to burn during a workout, the muscles will not effectively burn fat, as it should. The key to eating right is eating a balanced diet. The muscles need fuel, but it shouldn't be more than what it needs.

2. Doing the same workout routine

One big mistake most people make when attempting to lose a few pounds is doing the same workout every day. This method will never see any results. After a few weeks of doing the same workout, the muscles used for these exercises would have already developed and adapted to the repetitive routine. The muscles become strong enough to carry out these routines, without the need to burn extra fat for energy. And this results to a plateau situation where the body will not improve and the routine will stop being effective. Every person has their own preference when it comes to weight loss exercises. But it’s important that the body is challenged with different types of exercises, in order for the routine to continuously take effect.

It’s important to balance between doing cardio workouts that get your heart rate up and pushes your muscles to burn calories, and also doing strengthening workouts. For a more effective and faster weight loss program, this balance is important. The cardio is done to help lose weight faster. But strengthening the muscles isn’t just about looking toned. The more muscle mass a person has, the more calories they burn during a workout because the bigger muscles need more fuel. It’s as simple as that.

3. Not drinking enough water

Any fitness coach, enthusiast or athlete can tell you that not drinking enough water is one of the main reasons why a person is not losing the weight they are trying to lose. Regardless of how much a person works out, if they are always dehydrated, their muscles cannot function effectively enough to burn calories.

The key is all about balance. A balanced diet, a balanced workout routine, and hydration are just as important to focus on, then the actual motivation to work out. These are important mistakes to avoid to guarantee that any workout routine is as effective as it should be.