Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

We receive so many emails from young and old alike wanting to lose weight and then being upset that they do not know how to lose weight.  Since we are trying to help the masses, we must tell you the usual disclaimer that if you want to start a weight loss program you should go visit your doctor before starting any sort of program because there may be some hidden risks or ailments.  Now that we have said the required, let us say what really needs to be said.  If you are tired of being overweight, then do something about it.  Get educated, read books, search the web and for heavens sake, stop blaming the world for your demise!  If a person wants to lose weight they will do what is needed to make it happen.  If a person desires to lose the weight that has taken years to put on, then it must be realized that it will takes quite some time to take that same weight off.  A person needs to make this decision them self and this decision cannot be forced upon them for any reason, unless the individual wants it to happen.

If you are a person that wants to lose weight and have made it to this point, then listen to what we have to say.  Figure out how many pounds you want to lose and then divide it by 1.5.  (ie: 100 pounds divided by 1.5 results with an answer of 66)  So in this example you want to lose 100 pounds and when you divide that by 1.5 pounds a week, you must understand that comes out to 66 weeks of effort….. 66 weeks of effort!!  Let’s repeat that again…….if you want to lose 100 pounds a good goal is that it will take you 66 weeks of effort.  Sure, if you were to be on The Biggest Loseryou would lose it faster, but chances are you are not going to appear on the show.

Realistic weight loss goals are essential to weight loss and 1.5 pounds a week is a fantastic and a realistic goal.  The first week you should lose weight faster, but when the body adjusts to the new lifestyle, 1.5 pounds each week is realistic. 

Now that you have a great goal set, you need to understand that your motivation needs to be there for the long run.  You must understand that all of the choices that you make over the next 66 weeks are your choices.  If you choose to start some silly weight loss fad diet that is not what you can do for the rest of your life, the failure will be all yours.  You will own that failure.  If you decide to start say…the cabbage soup diet, expect failure.  If you decide to do anything but a plan that you can stick to for the rest of your life, then it is an exercise in futility that will only end with a feeling of another weight loss failure.  You need to not start a diet, you need to start a new way of life.  In that life you will be confronted with food and exercise decisions on a daily basis.

If you go to work and eat three donuts from the break room, that is okay.  The reason it is okay is because the choice, the decision and the weight gain are owned by you.  If you can’t keep away from certain foods in an effort to shed weight, then your motivation to lose weight is not as strong as you may think.  We will not and sit and coddle you about past decisions and events in your life that led you to become fat, that is for Jillian Michaelsand Bob Harperto deal with, so read the books they have written.  We are not saying you don’t have an over-riding emotional issue that causes you to eat too much.  We just want you realize and understand that your past weight loss failures are like ice cream on the side walk.  There is nothing you can do about them and if you want to make a change for the future…..you can.  If you try to make that change and keep failing, maybe you do not really want to make that change. Maybe you feel safe being fat.  Maybe this and maybe that….bla bla bla!!!

If you want to lose weight then realize you and only you can make it happen.  Stop the sodas, all of it, diet soda included.  Stop the candy, slow down on the salt, keep track of the calories you eat (FitDay is a great online tool) and for your own sake, get out and do some exercise four or five times a week by joining a health club.  If you slip and slide during your weight loss journey it is alright because you are not in competition with anyone.  If you slip, pick yourself up and keep moving and keep trying.  The past is history and the future has not yet happened.

Whatever you decide to do, the decision will be owned by you.  If you want to be 100 pounds lighter, then in 66 weeks it could be a reality, but only if you put forth the effort and maintain a sense of sustained motivation.

Good Luck!!  You can do it, anybody can!  Your future has not been written yet, but one day soon, your future will be your past and that day is coming whether you want it to or do not want it to.  66 weeks from this moment will occur one way or the other.