Have you ever gone on the same diet as your boyfriend or husband, only to find that he loses a lot more weight than you do? It’s not just you; this happens to women everywhere. So why is it that men lose weight more easily than women?

One of the main reasons is that men generally have more muscle mass than women, thanks to the hormone testosterone. Men also burn more calories than women even when they’re just sitting around, because they have a faster resting metabolism. This means that men burn more calories during workouts too, even if they’re doing the same exercises as women. As a result, women often need to work out harder to achieve the same weight loss as men.

Weight training can help build your muscles and boost your metabolism.

But it’s not just physical differences that make it tougher for women to lose weight; mental factors play a role too. Women often have a stronger emotional connection to food, making it harder to stick to strict diets, especially those without “cheat days.” If a woman has an unhealthy snack, it can sometimes lead to overeating and feeling discouraged, undoing a lot of the progress made.

In contrast, men generally find it easier to stick to diets and if they do slip up and have an unhealthy snack, they tend to feel less guilty about it and quickly return to their diet. So if you have a slip-up, don’t be too hard on yourself. Enjoy the treat, and then get right back to eating well—without dessert afterward.

Additionally, men and women usually have different food preferences. It’s often thought that women prefer more carbohydrates, while men lean towards eating more meat. Men typically need more carbs due to their larger muscle mass and higher energy expenditure. So if a man and a woman eat the same amount of carbs, the man tends to lose more weight relative to his body size. Try to limit your carb intake and focus on eating more protein.

So, if you find that your boyfriend or husband is losing weight more easily than you, don’t get discouraged. It’s just biology. Do you have any stories about trying to lose weight with your partner? Did you experience the same results, or did one of you see better outcomes? Share your experiences in the comments below.