Losing weight is often portrayed as simple as eating healthy and watch the pounds shed off. But, in practice, it hardly seems as easy, right? Often, you’d see no change or experience stagnation after an initial drop. In order to ensure your efforts are effective, you might want to keep the below factors in mind:

Our ability to gain, lose or maintain weight is often determined by our genetics. If you have overweight family members—especially your direct relations—chances are you’re likely going to have a slow metabolism. This affects the way your body processes its food and regulates your metabolism.

Ageing is part of life, and so is our changing metabolism. As we grow older, the body’s requirements shift and so does our caloric needs. Therefore, young adults with higher calorie intake often find they cannot continue the habit as they get older—without negatively impacting their weight.

Aside from the fact women are more predisposed to gaining weight, they initially lose it harder as well. Men typically experience faster weight loss due to their testosterone levels. That said, this difference is negated in the long term.

Having healthy food is touted as being a cure-all for your weight loss woes, but there’s more to it than what you eat. The quantity of your intake matters as well. You can still over-eat and gain weight while eating healthy foods. Therefore, it is important to understand the caloric value of what you're intaking and how it's contributing to advancing your fitness goals.

Aside from the food we intake, the level of physical activity determines ability to lose weight as well. While eating at a deficit is recommended, you can further the cause by burning calories through workouts and other physical activities.

Did you know your mind can have an effect on your progress? Our bodies are not computers relying on inputs and outputs; they’re complex beings affected by stress and anxiety. Try to manage your stress through meditation or exercise to get some relief while staying on track with your journey.

Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. Luckily, your body needs to be well rested and primed to benefit from the nutrition you’re offering. It is recommended to get 8 hours of nightly sleep to promote wellness in your mind and body.

Don’t see your ailment on the list? While weight loss is possible with many temporary or on-going medical conditions, it can restrict the rate at which results can be seen. Or, alternatively, you may need to make adjustments to your lifestyle or diet. In order to understand how you can lose weight with your condition, consult your doctor.

All in all, weight loss isn’t an overnight game! It takes up to 3 months for the results of your efforts to become apparent. The above-mentioned factors can help you ensure you’re on the right track, but give yourself a little room to see results you’re after.