Why Can't I Manage My Weight

Despite your best efforts, your weight management journey has been unsuccessful so far. Your body weight remains the same no matter how many times you look at the numbers on the scale.

You're discouraged by the belly fat that just isn't going away. You're getting depressed from not eating (which is definitely not good medical advice!), and not eating isn't even helping! You're also getting less hours of sleep as a result of over-worrying.

You're thinking it might be to take it one step further just to lose that extra bit of stubborn weight, but how far is too far?

5 Signs You’re Taking Your Diet Too Far

1. You are Obsessed With the Weighing Scale

Instead of obsessing the numbers on the weighing scale, focus on a healthy diet and exercise.

You weigh yourself after every meal just to see if it has caused you to pile on the pounds. If there's a slightest increment in body weight, it affects your mood for the rest of the day.

Solution: Our weight fluctuates from day to day, even hour to hour, and this can be due to varying reasons such as water retention, constipation, and even after exercise. Weighing scales are not an accurate representation of how much body fat we actually have.

Avoid weighing yourself after every meal. Instead, weigh yourself once a week and focus on other signs of progress such as boosts in energy and an improved mood. To get a better idea of whether you’re in the healthy body weight range, use a BMI calculator.

2. You are Secretive About Your Diet

Stick to a healthy diet and regular exercise routine for better health and weight management.

You are unwilling to share details about your meals with others for fear of being judged. You're afraid your loved ones will nag at you for eating too little and you don't want them to worry.

Solution: Sticking to a restrictive diet plan (even one with healthy food) can cause all sorts of unhealthy side effects and health problems because it does not nourish your body entirely. If you find that you are suffering from fatigue, moodiness, irritability, sleep disturbances, poor immunity, and constant hunger, this is a big red flag.

Instead of restricting yourself to certain types of food, create a balanced meal plan to include essential portions of meat, vegetables, fruits, and bread or rice. Build a healthy food plate with these guidelines.

3. Your Self-esteem Depends on How Much You Weigh and How Much You Eat

Portions of Ceasar Salad and Pizza

You feel good about yourself when you've adhered to your diet and it seems to be working. You beat yourself up when you veer off your diet and try to overcompensate by eating less the next day.

Solution: First, it’s important to realise that you may cheat on your diet simply because it is too strict and your body needs more nutrients. If that’s the issue, then ensuring your diet is well-balanced is the key to getting back on track. Next, if you tend to binge eat (especially foods that are high in calories and fat) due to stress or anxiety, then addressing your emotions is the solution. Try not to force yourself to eat less or have more willpower to reject the next temptation.

4. You Spend an Exorbitant Amount of Time Thinking About Your Weight and Diet.

Man lying down and not getting enough physical activity.

You find yourself constantly thinking about what you’ve eaten or are going to eat to the point that it distracts you from all other activities. You’ve also started to lose interest in things that used to delight you and concentrate on planning your meals instead.

Solution: Being too strict with yourself can cause you to burn out quickly and pick up unhealthy eating habits instead. Alternatively, if you simply focus on eating healthy at consistent times and having balanced meals for a long term, you will be able to see real and lasting results, while not sacrificing the time and energy for other things in your life.

5. Your Dieting Habits Distance You From Friends and Family

Young girl eating oatmeal with berries after a workout

You find yourself rejecting meals with your family and friends because you don't want to be tempted to eat "bad" food.

Solution: There are ways to enjoy healthy meals in social situations. For example, you can bring your own food to a gathering, or suggest going to a restaurant where you know you can eat healthily.

Adopt a Healthy Stance When for Weight Management

A well-balanced diet and exercise is the best way to manage our weights in a healthy way that doesn't harm our bodies. When we starve ourselves and eat too little, our metabolism slows down, which makes it even harder for our bodies to burn more calories. An unbalanced diet can even lead to weight gain.

In addition to eating healthy, we should get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity a week. Our weekly exercise routines should also include at least 2 days of strength training exercises to build our muscle mass, which can help burn fat more efficiently.

With healthy eating and exercise, you'll gradually stop worrying why you're not losing weight ever again.

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.


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References

  1. Fetters, K. A. (2014, Nov 17). The Difference Between Actual Weight Gain—and Normal Fluctuations [Website].
    Retrieved November 2016 from http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/weight-fluctuations

  2. Holmberg, M. (2015, Feb 24). 5 Red Flags That Show You’re Taking Healthy Eating Too Far [Website].
    Retrieved November 2016 from http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17596/5-red-flags-that-show-youre-taking-healthy-eating-too-far.html

  3. Mitchell, E. (2014, Oct 28). 5 Signs You’ve Taken Your Wedding Diet Too Far [Website].
    Retrieved November 2016 from http://www.brides.com/story/signs-youve-taken-wedding-diet-too-far