The brain is a neglected, yet critical part of the weight loss component. In my years of working with those who are seeking a smaller body size, the consistent difference between those who succeed and those who do not lie solely in attitude. Those who reap the greatest results are those with a determined set mind. They have made the decision that their body is not what they envision for themselves, and that it will be different. In their minds, the act is essentially complete – it is simply a matter of execution. There are no excuses, no room for doubt.

If you struggle with weight loss, and have been for some time, it may be helpful to take a close look at what is sabotaging you. What beliefs are you holding onto that thwart your innermost desires? Who in your life are you allowing to make decisions about your body size for you (such examples are giving into spouses’ sabotaging, allowing the needs of others to get in the way of your exercise time, etc.)? And what have you gained by keeping your weight high? How does it serve you?

Those last two questions often surprise people. But, barring metabolic disturbances, the bottom line is this – if you were not benefiting in some way from your body size, it would be different. For some, extra weight offers protection – from intimacy, rejection, attention. For others, it is rebellion against being controlled. This is often very painful to hear and realize, but it often provides a phenomenal breakthrough and allows real, lasting progress to begin.
Examining the benefits of keeping on weight, or the actions that keep you heavy, allow you to question whether they still serve a need and give you the opportunity to explore other options of meeting current needs.Being aware of these patterns give you great power to change and heal through difficulties that keep you stuck in a less than vibrant life.

Much of my work is helping those who struggle root out saboteurs and effectively maneuver through the obstacles of daily life. Many times these important questions have never been asked! They certainly are not addressed in most diet books! I encourage you to stop, look at your thoughts and beliefs, examine your external obstacles, and make the decision – a solid, firm resolve – to make your life better. You have the power within you to have the life you dream of!

Strategies to jump start stalled weight loss efforts

It happens to everyone – at some point along the weight loss journey the scale stops moving downward. It can be a time of great frustration and is often the point where people give up on themselves and return to poor eating habits. Understanding what can cause a plateau and learning strategies to move past it can allow everyone to survive what can be the toughest place to be when losing weight.
Plateaus can occur for a number of reason. Without going into much detail, here are some common causes:

The body is adjusting to a new weight and biological “reorganization” is causing a temporary lapse in progress.

You have been eating too little, and your metabolism has slowed, despite exercise.

First off, if it has only been a couple of weeks, PMS or bodily adaptation may be occurring. Take circumference measurements and if female, wait until your menstrual cycle has completed before coming to any conclusions.
If the scale still will not budge and you have not lost inches, try the following:

• Keep a food and exercise diary. Maybe there are things slipping in that are halting progress, or perhaps you are not working as hard with your activity routine.
• Shake things up a bit! Vary your fitness regime by adding a new activity or increasing the intensity of what you are currently doing.
• Vary your food intake by trying to change the ratio of carbs/fat/protein for a week or two. This can “shock” the system into action, but may not be the right choice for everyone. Attempt this only under supervision of a nutrition professional.
• Avoid extra salt and try increasing your water intake.
• Measure out your food to ensure you are guesstimating correctly.
• Eat every 2-3 hours to boost your metabolic rate and stabilize your blood sugar
• If you have been too restrictive, slowly begin to add calories to your diet to boost your metabolism. Believe it or not, eating more can sometimes cause you to lose weight!
• Get enough sleep! Sleep deprivation is a notorious saboteur.

Also, take a look at your expectations of yourself. Perhaps this time in your life is more stressful and less structured than last month. If this is the case, it may not be reasonable to expect yourself to continue to lose a pound or two a week. If this is the case, congratulate yourself on avoiding weight gain and just work to maintain your weight until life becomes a bit more manageable.
If you have tried these ideas and are still not seeing results, enlisting the help of a professional may be what you need. A nutrition consultant has a trained eye and can find saboteurs that may have gone unnoticed and a personal trainer may be able to up the ante and give you variation, stimulation, and tips to utilize your workout program to the fullest.