InShapeMD Fayetteville Helps You Pinpoint Your Hidden Hurdles to Losing Weight

Everyone faces challenges in maintaining a healthy diet, but you can't let bumps in the road keep you from reaching your weight loss goal. 

Maybe you just started your weight loss journey and you're not seeing the results you expected. Even people who have been steadily losing weight for some time can stall out and stop shedding pounds as quickly. 

It's important not to get frustrated by these situations. Instead, use them as opportunities to carefully consider your diet and exercise habits and make improvements. 

They're not always easy to identify, but obstacles to successful weight loss are everywhere. Here are four you should look out for to meet your goals:

• You're following your diet and exercise plan too rigorously. Wait, what?! Who knew there was such a thing, but it is true. A "cheat day" on which you eat foods you normally not included in your diet plan can actually rev up your metabolism and help you overcome a weight loss plateau. In addition to the physiological benefits, enjoying some of your favorite foods in reasonable portions from time to time can re-energize your will power. 

• You're too focused on "healthful eating." This one runs counter to dieter's intuition. Researchers have found that thinking of your meal as "healthy" as opposed to "filling" or "indulgent" actually makes your brain release a hormone that makes you feel less full and signals your metabolism to slow down! Make an effort to savor the more decadent parts of your meal like the nuts and cheese on your salad or the bacon bits roasted with your Brussels sprouts. By incorporating elements of treats into your everyday eating habits, you can feel more satisfied without adding excessive calories. 

• You always choose foods labeled low-fat or light. The trick is not to choose foods that are labeled much at all! Highly processed foods, even "healthy" versions, are never going to be as good for you as fruits and vegetables. When you're grocery shopping, start in the produce aisle and make most of your choices there. It's a good idea to avoid aisles that contain tempting foods altogether.

• You pay with plastic at the grocery store. The rise of debit card usage means most people don't carry much cash anymore. However, it might pay to stop at the ATM before you shop. One study found that shoppers who pay with credit cards buy significantly more unhealthy, calorie-dense foods. If you know you're going in with a certain amount of money to spend, you're more likely to avoid junk food impulse buys and stick to your shopping list.

If you can avoid these common pitfalls, you'll be in great shape... literally! Tell us in the comments box below how you avoid concealed calories and dieting disasters.

--The InShapeMD Fayetteville Wellness Team