2 Reasons You May Not be Losing Weight

You’re eating better, watching your portions and trying really hard to be more active throughout the day. And yet with all those good efforts, that darn scale refuses to budge. It’s understandably frustrating, but absolutely not a reason to give up. Sometimes a few seemingly inconsequential habits can keep pounds in place, but once you’re aware, you can make adjustments. Here are two reasons you may not be losing weight:

You eat too fast. After you start chomping down on your sandwich or salad, it takes about 20 minutes for the “I’m full” signals from your stomach to reach your brain. Scarf down your lunch, and you’ll likely eat to the point of being stuffed and uncomfortable. Research has even shown that middle-aged women who eat rapidly tend to be heavier than those who savor each bite. To help you slow down, take smaller bites, chew 10 to 15 times, and put your fork down between each one.

You drink diet soda. It has fewer calories than regular cola, so of course you’d expect it would help you lose weight, or at least keep you from gaining. But it may actually have the opposite effect: One study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, discovered that people who consumed diet soda every day gained almost triple the abdominal fat over the course of nine years than people who didn’t. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, researchers found that overweight and obese adults who opt for diet beverages end up eating more calories from food than those who drink regular soda.