10 REASONS YOU’RE... NOT LOSING WEIGHT

1 YOUR FAT IS FIGHTING BACK

Oxford University scientists have suggested that the more overweight a person is, the harder it will be to shed pounds because their bodies produce more of a protein that stops flab being burned as energy. ‘Their stored fat is fighting actively against efforts to burn it off,’ said lead researcher Andrew Whittle.

2 BLAME IMPULSIVE FOOD SHOPPING

Shopping on an empty stomach is the dieter’s downfall, but how you pay may also dictate what goes into your basket. A sixmonth study of 1,000 households found that shoppers made more impulsive, unhealthy choices when paying with plastic.

3 YOU HAVE ‘SNACK AMNESIA’

Ever find yourself grazing mindlessly on food in front of the television or finishing your children’s leftovers when doing the washing-up? You may have a habit known as ‘snack amnesia’. Try keeping a food diary to focus your mind and find out where all those extra calories come from.

4

YOU’RE LONELY

Exercising with friends could help you shift those stubborn pounds. Working out with a pal boosts motivation, helping you exercise for longer. Research shows that during an average exercise session, women who exercise with friends burn up to 236 calories, against 195 for those who go it alone.

5

IT’S THE MENOPAUSE

Oestrogen – the hormone that decreases during the menopause – is thought to help regulate weight. The menopause, and the ageing process, also means your muscle mass will fall. Muscles are an efficient calorie-burner, so you burn fewer calories, leading to weight gain if you carry on eating and drinking as before. Regular musclestrengthening exercises can help.

6

...OR THE MANOPAUSE

Experts say some men develop a clutch of physical and emotional symptoms in their late 40s to 50s due to falling testosterone levels, including a loss of muscle mass and fat redistribution – and that could mean developing a large belly or the dreaded ‘man boobs’.

7 HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING?

A lack of shut-eye may affect hormones associated with feelings of fullness or hunger, and could be playing havoc with your waistline. A study of 500 overweight Americans found that those who got at least six hours’ sleep a night and coped well with stress were twice as likely to lose a stone on a six-month diet as those getting by on less.

8 STEP ON THOSE SCALES

Weighing yourself every morning could encourage better habits for the day ahead. Experts from Cornell University in New York claim a daily weigh-in forces people to be aware of the link between eating and weight.

9 USE YOUR KNIFE AND FORK MORE

Dieters could trick their tummies into being more satisfied with less if they cut their food into smaller pieces. Arizona State University academics who gave 300 students a whole bagel, or one cut into quarters, found those who ate the bagel whole were greedier at their next meal.

10 KEEP YOUR BODY GUESSING

Sticking to the same tried and tested routine week in, week out could leave you in an exercise rut. Your muscles will get used to doing the same actions and won’t be working as hard, which could contribute to a weight-loss plateau. Try varying your workouts, with new classes at your gym, or join a club for a fresh challenge.