Losing weight isn’t easy, and it takes time, dedication and a commitment to reach your goals.  

And many people, weight loss can become a challenge after just a few weeks following beginning a new diet. This is often due to the slowing of progress that many people experience when they first start out called a weight loss plateau. If you have started out strong, but have found that the weight has just stopped coming off, here are four reasons you might not still be seeing results.

1. You Eat ugar. Sugar offers a short burst of energy, but it also causes blood sugar spikes that may be slowing your weight loss. Sugary foods may also be downright addicting. Researchers recently tract the brain activity of 106 high school students and found that those who consumed sweeter beverages experienced a greater activation in the brains pleasure center than those who consumed lower-sugar beverage. Choosing low-sugar options may help reduce the internal reward system from being activated when you consume those not-so-good-for-you sugary foods, and reduce mental stimulation causing you to want to eat shortly after a sugary snack.

2. You Skip Breakfast. Eating small meals throughout the day can help maintain steady blood sugar levels to help keep you from reaching for sugary foods for weight loss success. Not only that, but by eating in the morning you also stimulate your metabolism and give your body energy from healthy foods to sustain you from the start of your day. Eating foods that offer a combination of protein, fiber, and healthy fats along with slow digesting carbohydrates can also help you feel full well into your day so that mid-day hunger doesn’t leave you craving unhealthy food options to satisfy hunger.

3. You People Please. Studies have shown that when people ate meals alone, they often consumed fewer calories than when they were in the company of others. Do you eat to be polite, or to keep the pace with those around you? Would you choose healthier options if you had a support system filled with people who also chose healthy foods? Try to plan meals ahead of time so that hunger, or people pleasing behavior doesn’t stand in the way of your weight management goals.

4. You Impulse Eat. The relationship between our emotions and food is a strong one. It’s easy to overeat when you don’t exercise portion control. Have you ever sat down with an entire bag or box of snack foods? There’s really no way of knowing how much you really eat, and psychologists have found that overindulging may be due to what is called emotional eating. For weight loss success, try to limit your intake of snack foods, and even full meals but setting aside measured portion before you start eating. You can use your hand, or a small cup to measure out a serving of most foods.

See other products and conditions: Diet & Weight Loss, Diet Support, Fat Burners.