Here’s a scenario that might resonate with you: You eat all the right food, do all the right workouts, and follow all the right nutrition plans, but you still don’t see the results you want. Before you give up on your plan, check out these five common reasons for hindered weight loss.

Neglecting Gut Health

We’re so focused on calories and food labels these days that it’s easy to forget what’s going on inside our bodies. Your stomach contains a whole ecosystem called the microbiome. A healthy and diverse microbiome helps break down and process the food we eat, which in turn facilitates weight loss. Eating foods with probiotics (such as yogurt) and taking digestive enzyme supplements can nurture your microbiome.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Is there anything simpler than drinking enough water? We all know we should do it, but so many of us don’t make it a priority throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps your body function at its best, boosting your energy levels, giving you focus, and maximizing your workouts. Even your body’s ability to lose weight can improve when you drink more water. Use that as a reminder to get up and fill your water bottle!

Overeating Nutritious Snacks

Almonds are a fantastic snack. They’re packed with fiber, protein, and good fats, but if you eat enough of them, you can completely undo your weight loss goals for the day. That’s right — it’s possible to overindulge in healthy snacks and get too much of a good thing. Foods like almonds, avocados, Greek yogurt, and others all have their limits. Make sure you check the nutrition facts on each food you eat to see if it’s within your calorie and macro goals for the day.

Blindly Trusting Low-Fat Labels

Speaking of nutrition labels, “low-fat” is a popular claim that could deceive you and impede weight loss. For example, low-fat food items are often packed with tons of refined sugar to compensate for taste. There are all sorts of reasons not to blindly trust low-fat labels, but at the very least, you should dig a little deeper when learning about your food. Plus, good fats are actually essential to a healthy, balanced diet.

Sitting All Day

OK — so you’re on top of your gut health, drinking plenty of water, keeping portions under control, and watching out for deceptive label claims. Still not meeting all your goals? Sitting in an office chair all day could be the problem. See if your employer offers a standing desk option. Get in the habit of taking a short break every hour to fill up your water bottle or going for a brief walk during lunchtime to get the blood flowing and maintain your metabolism.
These five tips will help you avoid some of the most common weight loss pitfalls. If you’d like to do even more, try one of our Isagenix Weight Loss Paks — they’re a fantastic way to achieve Results You Can’t Get Anywhere Else. You can shop for Weight Loss Paks on the IsaLife™ mobile app or through your online account.