This question comes up a lot from those who feel that they eat healthily and/or exercise frequently but just can't lose weight. I know how frustrating this must be but there is always something that can be done.

In the first instance it's important to rule out any medical condition, because there are some problems especially thyroid conditions which make weight loss extremely difficult.

But for most people it's not a medical condition which needs to be dealt with but more often than not an undetected eating habit.  

Because if you are eating the right diet for the amount of activity you are doing there is no way you would have put on the weight in the first place. And if you have at least stopped gaining weight with your current eating and exercise habits, that is progress! You just need to take it a little further to start nudging the scales down a level.

If you are eating healthily but are still not losing weight then it is usually portion sizes which are to blame. Because too much healthy food is still too many calories no matter how healthy it is.

You may have got in the habit of expecting too much food and it is a case of gradually reducing the amount of food you eat to the amounts you actually need.

If you are exercising regularly and it's not having any effect, then you may be expecting exercise to do too much for you. Look at how many calories you are burning. It's really not that many unless you are exercising hard for long periods.

Don't get me wrong, exercise is great to HELP with weight loss if you do it regularly but it's rarely enough by itself. Most people find that they have to reduce their calorie intake too. Also check that you are not eating a bit more because you feel you deserve it after all your hard work.

After you have thought about these things, look at all the eating habits you have. (You may have to make notes for a few days to detect what is happening).

Which habits are really not helping you? Maybe you have a healthy high calorie snack at a certain time each day. Maybe you have a healthy two courses for your evening meal when one is really enough. Maybe you have healthy whole meal bread with your meal but it's bread you don't need. Maybe you drink "healthy calories" in the form of fruit juices, smoothies or milky drinks instead of zero calorie water.

And then look at your DAY to DAY activities as opposed to the formal exercise you take. Slimmer people are generally more active without ever setting foot in the gym. They are up and down more. They fidget more. They move more about their home and work place. Could you be moving more in the course of the day?

If you have looked at all this, made the changes you think you need to make and are still not losing weight, please write because I'd like to know WHAT is going on too!

Copyright 2007, Janice Elizabeth Small

 

By putting in place my simple system you will lose weight steadily week by week and stay in great shape without dieting for the rest of your life. 

Discover the 24 keys to permanent and healthy weight loss at http://www.simplyslimming.com/dietexitplan.

 

 

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