Reasons Why Diets May Not Work for Your Weight Loss

Have you ever started a diet program for weight loss and got extremely frustrated because you are not getting your desired result?  Maybe you lost a few pounds at the beginning but then stalled, or maybe you couldn’t get it right from the start. 

You may be wondering Why does this happen. There are several possible reasons, and below are a few of the most common:

Hidden Diet Pitfalls

When it comes to weight loss and diets, there are a lot of hidden "pitfalls" that you can easily slip into without realizing it. You may be taking in extra calories from coffee with cream and sugar, or salad dressing that is high in fat or sugar or consuming too much sodium which makes you retain water.

If you feel the problem is in your food or beverage choices, take a close look at everything you eat and drink on a typical day, then calculate how many calories, fat, carbohydrates and sodium(salt) they contain.  

You May Be Dehydrated

Some diet programs may require you to limit your water intake. This can get you dehydrated.  A minimum recommendation is usually 64 ounces of water daily, but you'll need more if you are overweight,  work out intensely or if you live in a hot, dry climate.  When you don't drink enough water, your body holds onto the water it has.  That's a basic survival mechanism that can be easily overcome by simply taking in more water.  When you drink plenty of water, your body has no problem letting go of excess that is stored for survival reasons.  However, have it in mind that a high sodium (salt) intake will still make you retain water despite drinking plenty of water. 

Your Subconscious Fears 

It is always not easy for most people to believe that their thoughts could have so much control over their body, but subconscious fears and beliefs can be incredibly powerful.  Here's how to tell if this might be happening to you: when you think about being thin, about finally reaching your weight loss goal, how does it make you feel?  Of course you probably feel excited and eager to get there - but do you also feel a twinge of fear or discomfort about being thin?  

Do you worry that you will no longer have an excuse for not living your life to the fullest?  Do you worry that you will have no excuses for not getting involved in relationships and possibly getting hurt or betrayed?  

Many overweight people don't recognize that they gained weight for a reason.  Sometimes that reason is very simple: they eat too much and don't exercise enough and don’t really care about their diets.  But other times, there may be underlying emotional fears that need to be addressed before they will feel comfortable about losing weight and keeping it off for good.

If you suspect this might apply to you, you'll find it helpful to write about your fears and examine them closely.  Most of the time, you'll realize that they are not worth worrying about.  For bigger fears, however, you may need to seek professional help to work through them.