Why Youre Not Losing Weight—Even Though You Count Calories  

This article was written by Teresa Dumain and provided by our partners at Prevention.

You snack on fruit, count calories, and follow a weight-loss program. So when you step on that scale and the needle stays put, you wonder what the heck you're doing wrong. Take heart: A simple, slight adjustment in your healthy eating (and thinking!) can help you reach your weight-loss goal.

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The key to weight loss is taking in fewer calories than your body needs to maintain your current weight. You know this. But only 11 percent of Americans correctly estimate their ideal daily calorie intake, according to a recent survey. The rest of us tend to overestimate, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That's what keeps you from losing weight. Let's say you assume that a target of 2,000 calories per day will allow you to get to your goal, but it really takes 1,800: Those extra 200 are enough to keep you from dropping pounds.

The fix: First, get your max intake (Click here to determine what your ideal daily allowance of calories is.) Then, set limits on your meals and snacks. If 1,800 calories is your max, split it into three 500-calorie meals and one 300-calorie snack. This will be way more effective than just trying to stay under 2,000 calories a day without knowing if that fits your needs.

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Check out other ways to up your healthy-eating game from Prevention.

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