'I'm not losing weight?!' The first checkpoints to reach our weight loss goals.

When a client tells me they're not losing weight the first thing I ask them is how they are measuring this. When did they weight themselves last, when did they last take measurements, how do their clothes feel on them. For a lot of clients this is just a reminder that actually they are seeing progress but they just haven't stopped to appreciate it.

If they aren't making progress there are a few things I like to tackle first.

Are you tracking everything that you eat and drink? If the answer is no then that's your first major challenge. Without tracking we're really just guessing what we're eating and hoping for results from our exercise alone. This might work but it probably won't. Tracking doesn't have to involve measuring every single spoon of anything you put in your body but it does have to happen at least loosely (how many calories you eat and grams of protein in a day) whether you have weight loss OR weight gain goals.

Are you moving more or are you just promising yourself you'll make time for more exercise soon? Exercise isn't a magic wand for weight loss. Can it help? Yes. Does it work if we don't focus on what we're eating and sticking with a consistent exercise plan? No. You don't have to slave in the gym for hours every day but what I do need to see from clients is that they are moving more and incorporating some resistance exercise into their week to help increase muscle mass. If you're trying to lose weight and you're not doing these consistently then you're hindering yourself instead of helping yourself towards your goal.

Basically, weight loss is hard but it's not impossible. But you have to be 100% committed to it as a goal and you have to create consistency, or else the odds are stacked against you.

*Please note some individuals have issues losing weight due to underlying medical conditions, if you feel like may be you contact a medical professional*