5 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight, and How to Fix Them!

Continuing an exercise and healthy diet regimen can become really discouraging when you stop seeing results on the scale. Many people will say they have plateaued and cannot get past a certain weight. Here are five common mistakes people make when trying to lose weight and how to correct them.

1. You do not count your calories. You can eat as healthily as you want, but if you are consuming more than you are burning, then the weight will not come off. A simple Metabolic Rate Calculator can help you determine how many calories you burn throughout the day, keeping measuring cups and spoons readily available, and keeping a food journal can help to keep your portions in check. 
2. You crash on the couch. If you workout regularly and eat right you should expect to lose some weight. However, many people subconsciously use exercise earlier in the day as an excuse to relax a bit more than they normally would later in the day. People who maintain weight loss keep active outside of their exercise routines. Simple ways to add more activity include: small walks before or after meals, standing while using the computer instead of sitting, or stretching while you watch television.
3. You do the same workout, everyday. Our bodies are always trying to achieve homeostasis. So the more often you do the same workout, the easier it becomes for your body to accomplish, and the fewer calories you will burn. In order to keep your body guessing you have to switch up your exercise routine at least every two weeks. Trying different classes, exercise dvds, or targeting specific muscle groups on certain days can be easy ways to switch up your routine.
4. You keep junk food out. The foods you keep in plain sight are the foods your body is going to crave later in the day. If you keep the cookies right at the front of the cupboard or on the counter of course you're going to want them! But if you tuck them in back they can more easily become "out of sight out of mind." Keeping your healthy snacks readily prepared and in the front of the fridge or cupboard will make you more likely to stick to your healthy eating plan.
5. Stress. Being overly stressed increases the production of the stress hormone called Cortisol. This hormone clings to fat in the stomach, and can also lead to more hunger than normal. To reduce stress you have to try and take control of the situation in the most effective way possible, if there are aspects that you cannot fix or be in control of you have to work on mentally letting those things go. Making time for yourself throughout the day is also incredibly important.