If losing weight was easy, most of us would be able to slim down quickly without any help. Instead, an entire industry has sprung up around weight loss, because the vast majority of people need a significant amount of help in order to succeed.
And yet, even with all of that “help” out there, many of us struggle to lose weight. Sometimes we even lose the weight and then gain it back before too long! If you’re nodding your head right now, you’re probably one of the millions of people who have yet to find a weight loss program that works for you.
So why isn’t it working? There are three possible answers to that question.
You chose the wrong program. Just as in any other market, there are good weight loss programs and not-so-good programs. The good ones focus on identifying your goals and helping you make lifestyle changes that will lead to weight loss and overall better health. If a program mostly seems hyped to sell you a produce without any personal guidance, your results will either be nonexistent or temporary. Choosing the right way to lose weight is a key factor in your long term success.
Your goals are unrealistic. Your weight loss goals should align with your genetically predisposed body type. We aren’t all built to be a size 0, and many of us would not look or feel good at that size anyway! Likewise, most of us can’t lose weight rapidly, while still remaining healthy. If you hope to lose 50 pounds before your class reunion next month, you probably won’t reach that goal because it is physically impossible. Set goals that will be healthy and attainable for you, and celebrate milestones along the way. Remember that your goal should be to look and feel your personal best.
You have an underlying health problem that causes your weight gain. For most of us, a healthy diet and exercise plan will help us to steadily and safely lose weight. But if it seems like every weight loss attempt fails you, you should make an appointment with your doctor to rule out underlying health problems.