5 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight

By Flannery Dean



Still can't seem to shed the pounds? You could be sabotaging your weight loss success.

Avoiding Real Change
Too many of us view dieting as a miserable short-term solution, rather than a significant change in the way we live. Commitment to a healthier way of life necessitates more than just diet and exercise; it also requires a little soul searching. “Just ask Oprah, who’s been very open about the fact that her weight has shot back up again,” says Vancouver-based health and wellness expert and life coach, Dr. Susan Biali. “There’s really not much point in going through the intense effort of losing weight, if you don’t have a realistic, and enjoyable plan for sustaining that weight loss over the long term.”

What’s an enjoyable and healthy way of life for you? That’s a good question to ask yourself, and one that can help you set your overall goals. “I think the most fundamental, helpful change that will help people lose weight, is by seeing it as a gradual process, based on their natural likes and dislikes. Go with what you’ve already got. Use who you are as a guide for the most successful way to reach a healthy weight,” shares Dr. Biali.

The Quick Result Cult
We all want to lose ten pounds yesterday; hence the popularity of the juice fast or detox diet. “Shortcuts rarely, if ever (I’m tempted to say never), translate to anything lasting or worthwhile,” says Dr. Biali. “People need to let go of the temptation to want to find the “fastest” way to reach their goals – that’s actually a form of self-sabotage.”

Remember the story about The Tortoise and The Hare? Well the moral - slow and steady wins the race - can prove helpful in making a smart lifestyle change too.

Going to Extremes
No carbs, no sugar, no dairy! It’s the battle cry of the extreme dieter. It’s also an extreme path that more often leads to frustration. In Dr. Biali’s experience, people take on too much at once. “They’ll try to simultaneously cut out the two litres of pop they drink a day, stop going to fast food restaurants, stop snacking in front of the TV at night, and join a gym. Talk about a huge emotional, physical, and psychological shock! Drastic changes or programs will set you up for failure.”

Be gentle. Take the “one step at a time” approach. Week one: make a goal, like 'no late-night eating'. Week two: limit yourself to one small pop a day. Week three: join a gym. Incorporating slow lasting changes over time will ease the shock of withdrawal.

Following Diet Trends
Don’t fall for celebrity diet secrets or the latest diet book on the market. Most dieters “try to follow a diet regimen rather than working on creating new healthy, enjoyable habits that work for them,” shares Dr. Biali. And that’s counter productive to individual change. “They don’t really learn to incorporate practical changes into their pre-existing life, habits and preferences.”

Make your health and wellness a personal concern. Your program should reflect your strengths and weaknesses. “Identify simple changes that aren’t too hard for you to make. If you drink eight glasses of pop a day, rather than trying to go cold turkey, try substituting a diet version of pop instead, and see if you even notice the difference. I once even had a client start breaking her fast food habit by ordering a hamburger, instead of the usual cheeseburger (it’s a step!). Small changes, over time, make a huge difference.”


Conceding Defeat Too Soon
You didn’t go to the gym for a week. You snuck a can of Coke and a bag of popcorn at the movies. Big deal. Don’t let tiny bumps in the road become insurmountable obstacles to your overall success. “People tend to try an extreme diet or lifestyle change, and then give up when they find themselves falling back into old habits. It’s important to understand that change usually happens by taking two new steps forward, and one old step back,” says Dr. Biali.

Good days and bad days are as frequent in life as they are in a healthy diet, so cut yourself slack and have a sense of humour about the struggle. “Be patient with yourself, and give yourself points for every small new change that you’re able to make. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t stick to your new lifestyle changes perfectly.”


Source: healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca