Why Your Weight Loss Stalled

So, you are going to the gym three to five times a week, making sure to get your cardio sessions in, and yet your weight loss has slowed down or stopped all together. Or perhaps, no matter how hard you are working out, you just can't seem to lose any weight? It sounds like you need to take a hard, truthful look at the one area that seems to be an afterthought... your nutrition!

Your nutrition is the fuel that your body uses while you are in and out of the gym. If your nutrition isn't what it needs to be, you'll never reach your weight loss goals. It's difficult breaking the old eating habits that lead to your weight gain, but that is exactly what must be done in order to achieve your weight loss goals. That means no more hitting the drive-thrus when time is short, splurging at the buffets, and cutting out the sweets. All of these may seem like simple adjustments to make, but end up being more difficult when being put into practice.

Also of paramount importance in your quest to lose weight is making sure you're the right types of foods and in the proper proportions. The best possible way for you to make sure you can do this is by meal prepping your meals for the week. This way you can guarantee your foods are portioned properly, and you can be certain of all the ingredients in your food. As you may have guessed by now, your nutrition, diet, way of eating, or however you want to say it, needs to be the foundation on which you build your weight loss endeavor.

If you have cleaned up your way of eating and are still not losing weight, then I suggest you track your food intake in a journal for at least three to seven days. Be honest and write down everything that goes in your mouth. Omitting things will only hurt you and your progress. At the end of your food logging period, go over everything and figure out your calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake. This will help you figure out what is out of whack and keeping you from seeing results. If you are still experiencing this plateau of your weight loss, and you cannot seem to figure out what is holding you back, it is time to consult with a professional.

Working with someone trained in nutrition doesn't mean that you have failed, it's just the smart thing to do. Many of us when growing us were given bad and even worse nutritional advice. Chief among these was the USDA Food Pyramid's base with the suggestion of 6 to 11 servings of grains. I mean, this is great advice if you are wanting to gain weight, but not so much if you are trying to maintain your weight or lose any. If you decide to work with a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist, your visits can and most likely will be covered by your health insurance. If your insurance will not cover a Nutritionist or Dietitian, you could also try working with a Certified Nutrition Coach.

Losing weight seems to be as complicated as Calculus, at least that's what all these companies that are trying to sell you their products make it seem like. When in reality, it is much simpler than they project. What you really need is a plan, willpower, and dedication. If you are not sure where to start with a plan, then get a touch with a qualified nutritional professional. They can help you with the fine details and take the guesswork out of what to eat for your personal goals. The willpower and dedication must come from you. You need to be ready and motivated to work hard in your new lifestyle. And remember, true strength comes from within.