So you’ve started your diet…alright cool! You’re eating better food most of the time and you still aren’t losing weight and you wonder why. Well here are the top 5 reasons I have found to explain why people don’t lose weight.
1. You start a new diet every Monday.
So you eat clean all week and on the weekends you just let go. You eat crap the entire weekend and your diet gets shot to hell. By doing this, you basically negate everything you have accomplished during the week. You go back to ground ZERO!
Solution: Have one cheat meal during the weekend. You can still eat a little crap, just not every freaking day of the weekend. You need to have a cheat meal to keep your metabolism responding to your diet and weight loss efforts, and you need to eat what you want at some point to keep you sane. So have one cheat meal…not a cheat WEEKEND!
2. You overeat healthy foods.
You’re eating healthy which is great. You have replaced your Twinkies with rice cakes. But you eat the whole bag of rice cakes. You’ve replaced your Lays Potato chips with veggie chips from the whole foods store, but you binge on them. What you don’t realize is that you are still consuming a whole bunch of calories…whether it is via Twinkies or rice cakes. You have to reduce the amount of calories you consume in order to lose weight.
Solution: Read the label and actually take note of the serving size and the calories and fat per serving. The serving size on food packaging is there for a reason, although sometimes they are pretty ridiculous (one serving of cashews is like 10 cashews…who nobody eats just 10 cashews!). However, this gives you an idea of how many calories you are consuming if you eat the full package or half of the package. Read labels to ensure you are aware of the calories you are consuming. Also, you need to just dial down on the health food. So called
“health” foods can still make you fat if they are consumed in large portions.
3. Your salads are loaded with calories
Your salads are way too fattening. You start off well with the grilled chicken and the lettuce, tomatoes and other veggies. Then you add, candied pecans, the dried cranberries, the croutons, the raisins, and the dressing. All of these things pile on the calories and turn your salad into a pile of fat and sugar.
Solution: Eight-six the croutons, dried fruit, and the fatty dressing. Even though it’s fruit, dried fruit is full of sugar and, in my opinion, should be eliminated in order to achieve maximum fat loss. As far as dressings are concerned, go for the vinaigrette dressings and measure out portions and serving sizes based on the package labeling.
4. You go out to eat too much
If you really want to lose weight, eat at home. When you go out to restaurant, even though you order the grilled chicken and mixed veggies, chances are high that they were cooked with a huge amount of butter and fat. This packs on the calories and does not help you to lose weight.
Solution: Stop being lazy and cook at home, then you will know exactly what is in the food you eat.
5. You aren’t prepared
This is a biggie. If you aren’t prepared, you will fail at your weight loss attempts. I preach this all of the time to my clients and to people who are frustrated with failed attempts at losing weight. If you are attacked by hunger, if you don’t have healthy snack handy or have food already prepared, you will more than likely end up eating garbage out of a vending machine, convenient store, or fast food joint.
Solution: Cook your meals ahead of time. That way, when you arrive home, tired and stressed from your long day, you won’t be tempted to run out and pick up something from a fast food joint. You will already have your meal prepared and ready. Also, keep healthy snacks in your purse or in your car to help eliminate those vending machine and convenient store stops and visits.
These are just five reasons why you can’t lose weight. I could go on but I don’t want to throw too much at you right now. Keep coming back to the blog or contact me if you are struggling with losing weight. Weight loss is about so much more than “the perfect diet.” Your success is tied to a lifestyle transformation as well as being educated on what foods are best for you. If you need any help or have any questions, feel free to email me. I read and answer every email.
Till next time,
Melinda