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Why can't you lose weight?
by Joanna Hall
What are the reasons you can't lose weight? Joanna Hall, author of The Weight Loss Bible and the best-selling Drop a Size in Two Weeks Flat, tells how to knock down the barriers that keep you from reaching your goals
On your weight-loss journey you are going to come up against a whole host of barriers that can hinder your efforts. Many will be genuine challenges, possibly the same ones that have hindered your progress in the past. So deciding on a way to deal with them and bash them down will be part of your weight-loss tool kit. The logic concerning barriers is simple: when they are high, or perceived to be high, then confidence is low. Identifying your barriers in advance and learning how to bash them down will help keep you on track. As you follow The Weight Loss Bible, you'll come across several barriers, but you'll also find ways to help you become a great Barrier Basher! Remember, if you do not attempt to implement some of the action plans to break down the barriers, then your barrier still exists. Learning to bash down your barriers can help you to become an Inner Coach rather than an Inner Critic.
Barrier: Lack of Time
Probably the most cited barrier. You don't need to have hours on end to take action, or put your normal life on hold to make weight loss work for you.
Bash it down:
Exercise earlier in the day. Studies have shown that people who are new to exercise and choose to exercise first thing in the morning are 75 per cent more likely to still be exercising 12 months later. Schedule in exercise blocks at the start of each week and write reminders everywhere - on your computer screen, diary and mobile phone - to let you know when you should be exercising. Think shorter exercise bouts, not longer! Research has shown that people who take shorter exercise bouts end up completing more than those whose exercise bouts were longer. Seek out ways to exercise at home. People tend to stick with home-based exercises more than facility-based exercise sessions.
Barrier: Too much effort
Many people perceive exercise as a skill, requiring great physical coordination or an aptitude for sport - but this needn't be the case.
Bash it down:
Seek out ways to exercise at home. For example, use home exercise DVDs, or try walking routes of differing lengths near your home. Stop looking at exercise purely as a way of getting hot and sweaty or as something that has be done in exercise kit. Building up lifestyle activity to top up your structured exercise can help change your traditional perceptions about exercise.
Barrier: Lack of support
Social support is very important, whether it is from a partner, friend or support group. There will be people, however, who actively discourage your new healthy habits.
Bash it down:
Seek out and identify who will be the supporters and saboteurs. Studies with recovering heart disease patients reveal that men had an 80 per cent adherence rate to their exercise programme when supported by their spouse compared to 40 per cent when their spouse had a neutral attitude.
Find exercise partners who will be powerful motivational supporters. Find people who can help make it easier to build exercise into your life. For example, if your partner or friend agrees to pick up the children three days a week, you can use that time to exercise. Explaining to others the importance to you of following your exercise and eating programme may help them be more supportive.
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