5 Reasons You're not Reaching Your Fitness Goals

fitness
Ever feel like you’re not getting any closer to achieving your fitness goals? It happens to the best of us. Hitting a plateau is a damn-right motivation destroyer. But don’t give up hope just yet, we have done the leg work (no pun intended) to find the reason/s behind your fitness slump. Take our advice and you’ll be back on track in no time. 
 
1. You’re not eating enough
Yes, it’s true. It is drilled into us that to lose weight we must have a calorie deficit. As true as this may be, it’s not all black and white. When your calorie intake is significantly lower, your body does whatever it can to conserve those calories for basic functions. So, as your body enters ‘survival mode’, you’re actually burning less calories and storing more fat. But this doesn’t mean you need an extra helping of cheesecake. Instead of starving yourself, fuel your body with more fruit & veg, wholegrains and protein to help you smash those workouts.
 
2. You aren’t training often enough
Consistency is your friend. Sporadic workouts aren’t getting you any closer to your goals. You won’t be progressing much at all by going to the gym for an hour every other week. Create yourself an exercise routine that you’ll stick to. We love HIIT Workouts! They can take as little as 10 minutes, so they can be squeezed into the tightest of schedules. After a few weeks, working out regularly will become part of your life and you’ll begin to see those motivation boosting results.
 
3. You are not be training hard enough
If you train 3 to 4 times a week and are still not seeing any results, you might not be pushing yourself hard enough. If you find your workout too easy, stop being lazy and amp up the weight, speed or resistance - make your workouts count! Get sweaty and trust us, you’ll feel energised (and proud) afterwards.
 
4. Your cheat meals are too frequent
We love a cheat meal, who doesn’t? Rewarding yourself is important and we are definitely not telling you to stop doing that. Cheat meals are food for the soul, some say they keep us sane, but if you’re having them too often they could be standing in the way between you and your fitness goals. One cheat meal a week is a good guideline. Can’t last that long without something sweet? There are plenty of healthy treat recipes you can try yourself such as Joe Wicks Blueberry and Banana Oaty Muffins (featured in our ‘4 oat recipes you’ll be glad we told you’ post).
 
5. You’re afraid to get stuck in with the weights
Many women don’t lift heavy weights in the fear that they will become ‘bulky’ or ‘manly’. Spoiler alert – this isn’t the case. You can lift heavy weights without the risk of becoming a female body builder after one rep. Strength training can help you define your abs, sculpt your calves and perk up your bum, all whilst creating a stronger, fitter you. Tailor your strength workouts to suit your ambitions.
Lifting heavy weights will help you build muscle and burn fat during and long after your workout. All muscle needs to be powered by calories. Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn doing everyday tasks. Combine strength training with cardio for a fitness regime that is sure to get you to your fitness goals and beyond!