How is the weight loss going?  I hope the weight IS going!   Many of you will be happily saying, “This is easy. I can do this from now on.”

However, there is also no doubt some will be saying, “Why am I not losing weight — or at least not quickly?” Over the next few days we will be looking at some reasons for stall-outs and planning some strategies to overcome them.

Today we will look at the most common one.  Perhaps you are eating too much.  I know, I know, you are keeping mainly to the green list and that gave you an initial success.  Perhaps, though, you are taking in too many calories.  It’s a balancing act.  If you take in more calories than you burn — even low glycemic calories — that energy will be stored as fat and you will gain weight. To get rid of it, you have to change the energy balance. Click here to read about how to control your calories.

Today we will look at an effective tool for finding out if you are simply taking in too many calories.  It’s called — drumroll please — the food diary.  I know, you don’t want to do that again, but it will really help to temporarily write down everything that goes in your mouth — and when.  Here’s why:

You will be able to track exactly how many calories you are taking in.  Most people who estimate severely UNDERestimate the number of calories they are consuming.  Part of this is because the portions we eat are bigger than the portion size on the label.  Measure if necessary to see how big the serving is supposed to be. If in doubt, make a habit of erring on the side of OVERestimating.

While calorie counting isn’t the most important part of the plan, and we don’t want to do it forever, we may have to take a harder look at your intake for a while.  Later, when your eating style has changed and become a habit, you can skip writing things down.

Don’t think this is your issue?  Check back tomorrow and over the next few days. We will look at other things that crop up and cause set-backs or stall-outs.

Eating to live and living for Christ,
Susan Jordan Brown