Do you feel like you can not lose weight no what you try? Does it just seems like you are destined to be heavy forever? Are you ready to give up because you are not having any success what so ever?
Believe me I know how you feel. I have had a problem with weight for most of my life. Up until about 5 years old I was of normal weight and then I started to gain. By the time I was a freshman in high school I weighted 265 pounds. I could no longer call it baby fat!
Over the next 6 months I lost 70 pounds. I did it by following a low carb diet and walking a lot. I didn’t know what a low carb diet was at the time, and it would take me 35 years to understand this weight loss. I cut out bread and ate veggies and lean meat. I also drank a lot of water and walked three miles a day as often as I could..
I kept the weight off for the rest of high school and then started putting it back on in college. Looking back I know it was because of eating lots of food that was high in sugar and starches. I lived in a fraternity and every meal had starches. Plus, there was a great sub sandwich shop just a block away for late night study breaks.
Eventually I gained most of the weight back. Since then I have been up and down over the years. I lost 30 pounds on Dr. Atkins diet plan and felt great but then I went back to starch and sugar foods and gained it back.
Now I understand my body needs low carb. Sugar and starches are not my friends. I lose weight when I limit them and I also feel a lot better. Still there are times when I plateau and these are some tips I use to get losing again.
Eat Very Low Carb To Jumpstart Weight Loss
I go back to the basics and limit my self to only carbs found in vegetables. Of course these are naturally low in carbs to I basically eat green veggies and protean and fats. I just can’t eat foods made from grains but sometimes I try to sneak them back in. I also am a chocoholic and sometimes I convince myself that a little chocolate won’t hurt. Wrong. I cut all sugars and starches out and I usually feel better within a day.
If You Can’t Lose Weight Be Sure You Are Drinking Water
Another problem I have is drinking enough water. It is strange, because I like water, I just forget to drink it some times. I will start drinking coffee and diet colas during the day when I am in a hurry. I know, it doesn’t make any sense but that is what I do.
I need to drink at least a gallon of pure water every day. If I forget and start drinking other things, even if they aren’t sugary soda pop poisons, my weight loss stagnates. This really makes a lot of sense because our bodies are designed for water. In order for our cells to work properly they need to have water, that is why a human can only go about 3 days with drinking any liquids. If we only drink coffee, diet soda, or other products then we are not getting enough pure water. Also, caffeine found in coffee and soda will actually force what water you do have out of your body.
Bottom line, if you can’t lose weight no matter what then ramp up your water intake.
Change Your Exercise Level If You Can’t Lose Weight
What? You are trying to lose weight without exercising? Sorry to tell you but this is not going to work. Our bodies were designed to burn calories for energy. That is really the whole point of eating. We take in food and convert it to energy or store it for later use when there is no food available. If we store it instead of burning it up we get fat.
If you don’t get any exercise, or very little, during the day then start walking. (Be sure to check with your doctor first to be sure you can exercise safely. More than likely she or her will say it will be one of the best things you can do but be sure to check anyway).
If you are already moving and you can’t lose weight then you need to change it up. If you normally walk then buy a workout DVD and follow it for a few weeks instead. Sometimes our bodies get used to what we are doing and it stops working. It also helps to increase the intensity of your workouts
One thing to keep in mind is if you are doing muscle building exercises then you may be exchanging muscle mass for fat. Muscle weighs more per volume than fat. So if you are building muscle you may not show a lower weight on the scale even though you are burning your fat stores up. Using a tape measure around your waist and hips will show you if this is the case.
What You Are Doing Isn’t Working If You Can’t Lose Weight
I hope this doesn’t burst your bubble but the fact is everyone can lose weight. Is it possible that you are eating more than you think you are? Do you graze? This is one of my problems. I tell myself that I am eating like I should but then I take an extra bite here or there of a high carb food. These add up. If you think this is one of your problems then keep a food journal and write down everything you eat every day. And I mean everything – every bite. You may be surprised at what is going into your mouth.
Believe me you can lose weight, you can get in shape.
If you have any questions or you have any encouragement then leave a comment. I will do my best to answer any questions you have.
Together we can get healthy and be happy.
