Few things are as disheartening as putting your all into dropping those pounds, only to see no, or poor results on the scale. As you become more and more frustrated, you may find yourself going over all the things you did right; “But…I count my calories, I try to exercise regularly and I definitely don’t drink as much soda as I used to” are quite common refrains.
Of course, weight loss isn’t always a simple equation. Sometimes, there are many other factors that may be thwarting your achievement of your goal. Here are some common hurdles to weight loss, and how to clear them more easily:
GUT-CHECK
Probiotics and prebiotics are both big topics in nutrition these days. Even though they sound similar, the two play different roles in your health. Both are important for human function and well-being, but they have different roles:
- Probiotics – These are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements. They can provide numerous health benefits
- Prebiotics – These substances come from types of carbs (mostly fiber) that humans can’t digest. It’s the beneficial bacteria inside your gut that eat this fiber.
After consistently taking probiotics or prebiotics, people experience a reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as fat mass. You can increase prebiotics in your diet by focusing on your fruit and vegetable intake. Give your gut a range of prebiotics to keep it happy. Fermented foods are another great option because they contain beneficial bacteria that thrive on the naturally occurring sugar or fiber in food. Probiotic supplements do not come with fibrous food sources for the bacteria to eat, which can hinder their effectiveness. Not all probiotic supplements are of the same quality, nor do they contain the same quantity of bacteria.