It’s that time of the year again: When many people re-start their weight loss goals, aiming to lose excess weight and achieve their ideal physique. For those of you who have tried this before, you know just how difficult it can be. Weight loss is a trying process and one that needs to be taken in stride and with patience. If you find yourself constantly stuck in the same place year after year, there may be some simple solutions to getting around the problem. Let’s take a look at the 4 most common reasons why people have trouble losing weight.

4. You’re Missing Out on Exercise

When you are hear the word “exercise,” you may immediately think about a full gym session but that’s not it. Exercise means being physically active. This can take many forms including playing sports, gardening, walking, jogging, weight lifting, swimming, etc. The CDC recommends the following:

• 150 minutes PER WEEK of moderate intensity exercise

Or

• 75 minutes per week of high intensity exercise

Focus on getting moving as opposed to a specific activity. You have so many options to choose from! For example, one 30-minute walk for 5 days a week meets the minimum exercise requirements.

3. You’re Not Planning and Measuring

Planning is half the battle. How are you going to know where you’re going if you don’t plan ahead?

Before you jump into the latest diet and exercise craze, take some time to properly plan for your goals. That means you need to define your goals, the time you can dedicate to those goals, and all the things that go with it such as gym membership, grocery list, etc.

Click here to read more about S.M.A.R.T. goals.

2. You’re Not Betting on Yourself

Weight loss is like a game and you should rig it so that you win every time. Most people jump into weight loss believing the odds are stacked against them and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Setting yourself up for success means looking at weight loss like a marathon and not a sprint. It’s better to achieve constant success over a long period of time than it is to have fluctuating results over a short period of time. Here are a few tricks to stacking the odds in your favor:

• Find a gym buddy – Someone like you who has the same goals – Chase those goals together
• Get competitive – Put money on your success
• Join an online or face-to-face community of like-minded people
• Join a weekly class – Paying for a class helps cement it as important
• Hire a trainer (even if it’s for one month) – Knowledge is power and you should learn from an expert to secure your success

1. You Don’t Control Your Portions

The number one reason why you may be having trouble losing weight is portion control. This is the most important change that you can make in your life to see big results. Portion control and calorie counting with the help of apps like MyFitnessPal can dramatically change the way you eat and the results you see. The “eyeball” approach to eating is the reason that so many people over consume calories. You need to education yourself on what a proper portion is and once you do, you’ll be able to make smarter choices that will lead to a successful weight loss. Click here to have a picture graph that helps to break down proper portions.

Tell Us What You Think!

Have you tried any of the tips above?

What were your results?

Let us know in the comments below!