Eating less can help you to reach a calorie deficit, which will mean you burn more calories than you consume.
This can lead to weight loss, but a professor explained there are common factors that could stunt results.
Professor Franklin Joseph of Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic shared hidden calories and other changes in the body can work against you when you try to reduce calories.
He said: “People come to me all the time saying, ‘I’m eating less but nothing’s changing'.
Hidden calories could hinder your weight loss results
GETTY"They’re often telling the truth but the problem is, weight loss isn’t just about how many calories you cut - it’s about how your body responds to them.”
The expert added a combination of factors can get in the way of your fat loss, including how your body responds to the cut.
He continued: “Poor sleep, high stress, hormone imbalances, and inflammation can all blunt progress.
“If your cortisol is sky-high from stress or lack of sleep, your body’s more likely to hold onto fat - especially around your middle.”
However, a common mistake dieters make is miscounting what they eating, meaning they are not actually in the calorie deficit they think.
Prof Joseph said: "I’ve had clients swear they’re eating 1,500 calories a day, but when we track it properly, it’s more like 2,200.
“Hidden oils, dressings, snacks and portion creep all add up – especially when you’re eating on autopilot.”
A healthy and sustainable calorie deficit is about 300 to 500 calories per day. Dropping too low can be difficult to stick to and lead to overeating when extreme hunger takes over.
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GETTYThe expert said another way to stay on track is by giving yourself a short break every few weeks to relax your metabolism.
He added: “A few days at maintenance calories can reset hunger hormones and give your metabolism a breather. It’s not a step backwards – it can actually speed things up in the long run.”
For more dieting tips, slimmers were told to ditch the food group that "slows the metabolism and increases fat storage".
Filling up on processed foods and sugar, in particular, can work against your metabolism, making it more difficult to shift fat.
