7 Signs You'll Fail at Weight Loss

By , SparkPeople Blogger
That headline got your attention, didn't it? Not to worry, SparkPeople hasn't changed our attitude about healthy living and weight loss. But what we have done, for the first time ever, is compile and publish the very best advice, tips and tricks from our "Success Stories"--more than 100 members who've lost weight and kept it off using SparkPeople.com to accomplish their goals. These members know that how you start to lose weight is the most important indicator of long-term weight loss. They shared their struggles and successes so that you can learn from their experiences and remove the guesswork from weight loss.

We compared their success against people who gave up on weight loss within the first two weeks. And you know what? We found quite a few red flags that determined--from Day 1--whether someone would succeed or fail.

Here are our top 7 signs that you'll give up on weight loss--and how to reverse your fate if you have any of these demotivating habits.

1. You think of this as a "diet." Diets don’t work. You want to lose weight for the short-term but never think about maintenance, so you never bother changing the habits that led to your weight gain in the first place. The weight slowly (or quickly) creeps back on as you revert to old habits.

2. You're not motivated. Give me a reason--any reason--why you want to lose weight. People who have a goal in mind, who have a reason or a motivation to lose weight, are more likely to actually lose weight.

3. You're skipping breakfast. There's a reason why it's called the most important meal of the day. And if your idea of weight loss involved skipping meals, especially this one, you're more likely to fail.

4. You're skimping on sleep. Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain, carbohydrate cravings, and all-around crankiness. If you're not getting enough sleep, it's harder to find the energy to exercise and eat right, and you fall back into old, unhealthy habits.

5. You're not eating three meals a day. As with forgoing breakfast, skipping meals or eating just once or twice a day can have a negative impact on your metabolism and weight loss efforts. The longer you wait to eat, the hungrier you'll be, and the more likely you are to overeat or reach for foods that won't aid your weight-loss efforts.

6. You're spending hours in the gym. There's a reason why the couch to 5K programs are popular, but few people do a couch to marathon program. You have to start slow. Spending hours in the gym after being inactive for a long time leads to burnout and injury. You're setting yourself up to fail if you're focusing on marathon cardio sessions to burn off all the calories you've eaten.

7. You deny yourself every food you deem "bad." Repeat after me: No food is good or bad. Eating one cookie or slice of pizza did not lead to your weight gain; it will not derail your efforts to get healthier. The trouble comes when you can't stop after one, but that's where The Spark Solution comes in.

Are you guilty of any of these bad habits? Don't worry--there's hope for you! Read through the 8 Habits to Ensure Lasting Weight-Loss Success, and learn more about these helpful hints in The Spark Solution, our award-winning book that is now available in paperback at an everyday low price!