Why is my body holding onto fat?

Author: Rickie Fay  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Your Metabolism Will Slow Down to Store Fat The more you work out or manage your calorie intake to lose weight, the more your metabolism wants to compensate by slowing down to maintain your current weight, this is called metabolic compensation. It kicks in to preserve and store fat for future energy.

How do I stop my body from holding on fat?

The best way to reduce visceral fat is through losing weight (if you are above a healthy weight range) and maintaining a healthy diet. Regular exercise is especially effective in reducing visceral fat and preventing it from coming back.

Why won't my body let go of fat?

If you have a slow metabolism, your genes may be to blame. Or you may not have enough lean muscle mass. People with lean, muscular bodies burn more calories than people with a higher percentage of body fat.

Why does my body keep storing fat?

This extra energy reserve helps us survive longer periods of fasting—like when food is scarce or when we don't have a chance to eat. Fat stores are especially important during illness: they nourish our cells and provide the immune system with energy to fight off infections when we're too sick to eat.

What burns the most belly fat?

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

Weight Fluctuations | Educational Video | Biolayne

What causes the body to retain fat?

Obesity is a complex issue with many causes. It's caused when extra calories are stored in the body as fat. If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly found in high fat and high sugar foods, and do not use all of the energy through physical activity, much of the extra energy will be stored in the body as fat.

How to shock your body out of a plateau?

How can you overcome a weight-loss plateau?
  1. Reassess your habits. Look back at your food and activity records. ...
  2. Cut more calories. Further cut your daily calories, provided this doesn't put you below 1,200 calories. ...
  3. Rev up your workout. ...
  4. Pack more activity into your day.

How to get rid of phantom fat?

How to outsmart feelings of phantom fat now
  1. Try a mirror mantra. ...
  2. Visualize yourself as you are. ...
  3. Reframe outdated mental patterns. ...
  4. Keep old clothes for comparisons. ...
  5. Take progress photos. ...
  6. Tune into tiny physical changes. ...
  7. Challenge yourself.

How do you get rid of stuck fat?

Here's how to whittle down where it matters most.
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Why am I fat if I barely eat?

If you're asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight when I barely eat,” several factors may be at play. Your body may be holding onto fat stores if your eating habits are inconsistent or restricted. Or, your weight gain may be the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, medical condition, or long-term stress.

What is the 30/30/30 rule for weight loss?

The 30/30/30 is a weight loss method that involves eating 30 g of protein within the first 30 minutes of your day and following it with 30 minutes of light exercise. This morning routine is rooted in sound science, and it could be a good way to increase your capacity to burn fat while keeping lean muscle.

How to get rid of cortisol belly fat?

Treatment For Cortisol Belly
  1. Get more than six hours of sleep per night.
  2. Increase your physical activity, such as by walking or practicing yoga.
  3. Support your mental health.
  4. Practice mindfulness and meditation.
  5. Reduce your alcohol consumption.
  6. Avoid smoking.

What burns fat the fastest?

  • Strength training. Working out is the best way to burn fat. ...
  • Eat more protein. ...
  • Get your eight hours of sleep a night. ...
  • Increase your soluble fibre intake. ...
  • HIIT workouts. ...
  • Cut down on sugar. ...
  • Start your day with exercise. ...
  • Eat more slowly.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

Why is my body not letting me lose weight?

Your Body Is Extra Prepared for Your Second Try

If you've lost weight in the past by exercising or changing your diet and try to use those strategies again to lose weight, your body ndash; mainly hormones and metabolism – will adjust to prevent similar damage and you'll see fewer weight loss results.

Will a cheat day break my plateau?

A planned cheat day can sometimes shock your body into breaking through the plateau and going back to weight loss mode. It can also give you a mental break from being so careful with what you eat. Finally, a cheat meal gives you the chance to eat some of the high-calorie treats that may have been scarce recently.

How to boost metabolism to burn fat?

5 ways to boost metabolism
  1. Exercise more. Add interval training to your cardio routine and burn more calories in less time. ...
  2. Weight train. By adding muscle mass to your body, you can burn more calories at rest. ...
  3. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. ...
  4. Eat fat-burning foods. ...
  5. Get a good night's sleep every night.

How to trigger the fat burning process?

8 Ways to Burn Calories and Fight Fat
  1. Exercise to Burn Calories.
  2. Do Strength Training to Build Muscle.
  3. Drink Caffeinated Green or Black Tea.
  4. Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals.
  5. Don't Skip Breakfast.
  6. Eat Low-Fat Dairy.
  7. Drink 8 Cups of Water a Day.
  8. Fidget.

What does losing 30 pounds do to your body?

Reduce Your Health Risks

Obesity increases your risk for many health problems. Losing the extra weight can help eliminate those health problems or lower your odds for them. Weight loss can reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also slash risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis.

Why am I not losing body fat in a calorie deficit?

The human body is highly adaptable and may respond to prolonged calorie deficits by slowing down metabolism to conserve energy. This is known as metabolic adaptation or adaptive thermogenesis. As your body becomes more efficient with fewer calories, your weight loss progress can stall.

What is a hormonal belly?

Hormonal belly is when a person gains weight around the abdomen due to hormonal fluctuations. This could be due to changes in thyroid, adrenal, reproductive, or other hormone levels.

Does walking reduce belly fat?

A research study states that regular walking helps reduce belly fat, which improves the body's response to insulin. Walking for at least 30 minutes every day allows you to prevent weight gain. It can also strengthen the muscles in your legs and tone your legs.

How to lose a hanging belly?

Counting calories, regular exercise, a healthy diet and reducing stress are all great ways to increase fat loss. It might be time to think about surgery if you have been trying to reduce your stomach overhang for a long time and you aren't seeing the desired results.

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