1. You’re Going Heavy on the Booze

When you chug a glass of beer or down a couple shots, you’re having fun but you’re also slowing down your fat oxidation. Fat oxidation is the process by which the body converts stored body fat into energy. The alcohol you consume is converted by the body into a substance called acetate which in turn slows down your fat burning ability.

Alcohol is also a serious appetite stimulant, which is why people find themselves binging on heaps of food when drunk or dealing with a hangover.

How to Fix it: While everything is OK in moderation, if you’re trying to get ripped try your best to refrain from guzzling too much alcohol. Also, supplement with a high-quality fat burner to keep you in check. Precision MEGABURN is an intelligent thermogenic fat burner featuring Teacrine® designed to burn fat and enhance cognition to make the most of your workouts.

2. You’re Stressed Out

Stress is something that can attack from multiple levels.

Cortisol (the hormone released when you’re stressed) can affect many of your body’s functions including the quality of your sleep, energy levels, blood pressure, and of course your weight! When there is too much cortisol in your system, your body stores extra fat, particularly in the belly area. Like alcohol, chronic stress can also cause an increase in appetite which can lead to overeating and weight gain.

One of the biggest challenges of stress: it can lead to a reduction in your muscles’ ability to absorb protein which means a reduction in lean mass.

How to Fix it: Find your go-to stress reliever and make time in every day to engage in that activity. Kicking back on the couch to play some video games, going for a run, reading – whatever it is, unwinding is key to reducing chronic stress and preventing yourself from sabotaging your workouts.

3. Your Quality of Sleep Isn’t That Great

A poor night’s sleep can lead to insulin resistance which means increased appetite, fatigue, and a slow metabolism.

Sleep deprivation is also known to lower leptin (the chemical that tells your brain when you’re full) and increase ghrelin (the chemical that tells your brain when you need to eat / store energy as fat). This hormone imbalance then increases your appetite, leading to weight gain.

How to Fix it: The simple solution – do your best to get 7-9 hours of sleep a day and eliminate any distractions that can impede restful sleep (i.e. cellphone use or caffeine consumption before bed, excessive use of sleeping pills, smoking etc.). Afterall, being fit is a lot more than just hitting the gym – it’s a lifestyle that requires healthy habits at all levels.

If you still have difficulty catching Z’s, try Precision MEGA-Z. MEGA-Z is designed to improve the quality of your sleep / rest and recovery period, allowing you to hit the weights with full power and strength!

4. You’re Aren’t Lifting Heavy Enough

You’re lifting religiously and working hard to achieve your dream body. But for some reason, you’re not making the progress you want, and fat loss is slow.

How to Fix it: There are two approaches to lifting. One – lift light weights at a higher rep count or two – lift heavy weights at a lower rep count. Both have benefits, but if the goal is fat loss (instead of building endurance) there’s one clear winner.

Lifting heavy with lower reps keeps your testosterone and metabolism high after training. This stimulates both fat loss and enhances strength. 6 to 8 reps is an ideal range to maximize leanness.

If you follow this and still find yourself struggling, low testosterone levels may be to blame. Get them up with a quality supplement like Precision TRIB-STACK featuring Tribulus terrestris, an herbal extract to increase your natural testosterone production.