Most Commonly Asked Weight Loss Questions


When it comes successful weight loss, the message has always been the same, “Eat right, move more.” But sometimes it’s not what is said, it’s how it’s said. When people are ready to change, they will hear the message that inspires them to change. Nicki


Over the years I find that the questions people ask are often repeated. I find that the the questions are always the same. So I thought I would dedicate this newsletter and answer the most common weight loss questions. If I missed one, let me know!

Why can’t I lose weight?

Weight loss is often like a mathematical equation, increased output, decreased input = weight loss.

Often, people simply aren’t exercising enough or hard enough to elicit results. Or people reward their exercise efforts with food, thus sabotaging any good intentions.

If weight loss is to be achieved there must be a healthy balance of calories in and calories out. If you keep a journal to document your input and output, that can be an eye-opener.

I tell my clients all the time, if your body is not responding to your exercise and nutritional changes, perhaps it’s time to see a specialist and make sure there aren’t any issues that are preventing weight loss. During perimenopause and menopause, there is no doubt weight loss becomes more challenging.

However, my most successful clients are those that STOP dieting, track their nutrition and work on lifestyle changes.

What are the most important changes to make in order to change my body?

Your unrealistic expectations. Your body will never achieve at 40 what it could at 20. I don’t necessarily mean the strength, or cardiovascular changes, I mean the actual physical changes people expect to get when they start exercising.

At the end of the day, exercise has GOT to be about being healthier, stronger and mentally balanced. If you’re looking to get a 6 pack (and you never had one before) the chances of getting it are slim. Especially for those of you that have had children. The body changes and well, it’s not that you can’t look pretty darn good, it’s that your expectations have got to be realistic.

Exercise and eating well are the best changes you can make to realize a difference in your body. Will it be perfect? Of course not, but what is perfect anyway?

What do you think is the best exercise for weight loss?

For many of my clients there is no best, there just is. In other words, I just want people to move every single day. And if that means walking works for you, do it. If riding your bike works for you, do it! If an exercise video tape does it for you, do it!

Whatever it takes to motivate you to be active on a regular basis, that’s what you need to stick with.

Experiment, try new things, just move more and sit less. That is the best exercise prescription.

Are there foods that I should absolutely avoid?

Any and all fried foods. Processed foods.

Do your best to stick with foods that have the fewest ingredients and stay as close to “whole” as possible. Remember, learning how to break unhealthy habits say, with fast food for example, is tough. But small, gradual changes can have profound, lost lasting, healthy impact.

Things like taking your lunch to work, meal planning a couple of times a week (to start and as it gets easier you can do it more often), drink more water and less soda.

Do you really think diet drinks are bad?

I think I’ve said more than once, “murder is bad,” are diet drinks? They’re not BAD they are simply not a great choice.

I have my reasons for not supporting or encouraging drinking diet sodas, some of my nutrition professionals agree while others do not, but here are my thoughts.

I think if you can have water over soda, why wouldn’t you? I drank Diet Coke for 8 years and I felt constantly bloated, I always had the munchies and chronic headaches. Since I gave it up, bloating, headaches and munchies are gone, coincidence? In my opinion, I don’t think so. Every client of mine that has walked away from diet sodas has felt a hundred times better.

At the end of the day, it’s a call you have to make.

How much water should people drink?

Water is your body’s principal chemical component, making up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. So remember, if you’re feeling tired, try a glass of water.

The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate.

Remember, as we age our “cue” for thirst diminishes so make drinking water a habit versus waiting until your thirsty. By then you’re probably already dehydrated.

What do you think is a reasonable amount of time to lose 10 pounds?

Of course this question is an “eye-twitch” for me simply because I really don’t focus on pounds, rather I focus on changes that will lead to long-term dedication to a healthy lifestyle.

So what is a reasonable time? Based on changes that you make, body type, weight history, genetics, etc. my answer is, whenever your body is ready.

Remember, ANYONE can lose weight, it is those that can KEEP weight off that are successful. Don’t look for fast and easy, as slow and steady wins the race, at least in the healthy living world that’s the way it works!

If there are any questions I may have missed, don’t hesitate to let me know. These are the most common questions I am asked and hopefully they will answer your questions and concerns when it comes to weight management and healthy living.

Here’s to a healthy week!


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