Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Of all the questions I get, this one is the most frequent: Why can't I lose weight? There are usually one of two things going on in this situation. One: You are losing weight, it just isn't showing up on the scale or it isn't showing up where you expect it to. If you're losing inches, but not losing weight, that's a sign that you're losing body fat and gaining muscle, something the scale doesn't reflect. The other part of that is that our bodies determine where the fat comes off. Maybe you lose some from your face or your arms or your calves when, all along, you really want to lose it from your abs or thighs. You may think this is a sign of failure, but all it really means is that your body is doing what it's supposed to: It's losing fat and it will get to those stubborn areas in its own good time. Two: You really aren't losing weight and it's because of your diet, your exercise, your lifestyle or a combination of all of those. I discuss these reasons and more in my latest FAQ, Why can't I lose weight? and I even offer some ideas for what to do about it in What to do if you're not losing weight. Hopefully, you'll find some helpful suggestions if you're struggling with this issue and be sure to leave a comment about your own experiences. Do you feel like you can't lose weight no matter what you do? How do you monitor what you're doing to find out what the problem is? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

Why Can't I Lose Weight? originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 at 05:00:45.

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