Can You Recognise Your Weight Loss Hindrances?

     There are lots of reasons why weight loss plans go astray; however what you are not always told is that the majority of your fat loss barriers are triggered by yourself.

From underestimating the number of calories you are consuming to using prescription drugs which may be affecting your weight, each of these obstacles can affect your chances to get in shape.

Below we have supplied 10 of the worse dietary obstacles which could be halting your diet:

1. Not enough sleep - it is suggested that you sleep for a minimum of 8 hours a day and this is for a good reason. Don't get enough sleep and your hormones become unbalanced leading to loss of energy and increased appetite.

2. Avoiding meals - whilst initially it may seem reasonable to miss breakfast, after all 1 meal less a day equals fewer calories consumed. However, skipping meals can make your body think it is starving encouraging it to change calories into fat. Similarly missing breakfast means your metabolic rate will start the day slower and will burn less calories.

3. Over guessing calorie burn - although exercise is an important part of any weight loss plan, it is easy to get into the routine of saying 'I have just performed a 30 minute exercise plan so I can treat myself to cake'. To optimise your workouts you need to check the amount of calories used to those ingested.

4. Underestimating calorie consumption - it is easy to ignore the odd chocolate bar here or accidentally give yourself a larger lunch there, but without detailed maintainence extra calories can easily sneak into your diet. Try writing in a food diary for a few weeks listing everything you eat and drink, as well as the calories they include. You'll be surprised by how fast they build up.

5. Constant stress - alongside encouraging the temptation to overeat, anxiety can also cause an accumulation of fat (particularly around your stomach) and increase your appetite.

6. Forgetting liquids - smoothies, fizzy drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol. all are filled with calories that are often ignored during diets. Because of this, if you want a glass of wine with your meal make sure to allow for these calories throughout the day.

7. Giving yourself dietary holidays - although there is nothing wrong with treating yourself occasionally, at the weekend it is easy to fill your days with 'exceptional' eating and break rules you wouldn't normally do in the week. Because of this it is pivotal that you don't forget your diet as 2 days off can make a big difference to your diet particularly if your sugary cravings have accummulated during the week.

8. Taking prescribed drugs - many prescription drugs can prompt weight gain which can feel very frustrating if you are suffering from a condition that makes working out hard. If you are concerned that your tablets is halting your diet, speak to your physician who can help you to improve your prescription and provide dietary tips.

9. Don't become impatient - a common mistake loads of us make is only focusing on the end goal for example your end dietary target. The problem with such targets is that when the excess fat doesn't initially drop off, you get frustrated and want to give up. Because of this it is essential that you make achievable goals of 1-2lbs a week so you'll feel that you are attaining more weight loss quickly.

10. Targetting to low - your body has got a set weight for your body shape, so even though you wish you could look like super models, getting rid of an extra 10-15lbs could often put your body under unnecessary strain.

If your weight loss barrier is amongst the list above, it is still possible to attain your weight loss targets naturally and without endangering your body.

The trick is to eat a balanced diet (no fewer than 1500 calories per day), to exercise 4 times a week for 30 minutes (preferably cardio and strength training) and to give yourself realistic goals.

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