A person with belly fat. [Photo/Pinterest]

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Many Kenyans usually find it hard when it comes to losing weight. A number usually try out different things, from exercise to diet. Some have positive results while others end up being demotivated despite doing everything.

So, what are some of the reasons you are unable to lose weight despite working hard?

You are not doing cardio. Cardio involves running, jogging, swimming and it is one of the most effective ways to improve health and lose weight. Cardio majorly helps in burning belly fat. Majority of people usually ignore cardio and only focus on diet.

You are drinking a lot of sugar. Sugary drinks are the major reasons of weight gain. Sugary beverages are enticing as they make one eat less food and focus on the drinks. Our brains don’t compensate for the calories in them by making us eat less of other foods. The most dangerous drink is soda. Additionally, fruit juices are not safe either and should be consumed in small quantities.

You’re Not Sleeping Well. Enough sleep is one of the most important things to consider for physical and mental health, as well as your weight. According to studies, poor sleep is one of the single biggest risk factors for obesity. Adults and children with poor sleep have a 55% and 89% greater risk of becoming obese, respectively

Too much alcohol intake. Beer, wine and sugary alcoholic drinks are high in calories which contributes to weight gain. If you cannot cut on alcohol consumption, it is advisable to stick to spirits accompanied with a non-caloric beverage.

Starving yourself. Starving yourself for too long as a diet plan is not good after all.

If you’ve been losing weight for many months and you’ve hit a plateau, then perhaps you just need to take a break.

Up your calorie intake by a few hundred calories per day, sleep more and lift some weights with the goal of getting stronger and gaining a bit of muscle.

Aim to maintain your body fat levels for 1-2 months before you start trying to lose again.