I was doing a little reading today to find a little inspiration for something to write about, and came upon this question within a weight loss forum where the individual asked if anyone else decided that losing the last few pounds was just not worth it.

If you have ever followed any weight loss social media sights, you know this mindset of quitting is actually quite prevalent, even among those who have had great success at losing a good amount of body fat. It seems it is almost always that last 20 pounds that people have the most difficulty with losing.

And there is no good reason for anyone to just give up on their weight loss journey, especially when they are so close to their goal weight.

Excuses!

When you follow any of these weight loss social media sights, you will see a myriad of excuses why some cannot lose weight, or why some have done well and then cannot get past a plateau.

I just cannot lose these last pounds!

Is it that you cannot lose those final pounds or is it that you simply do not want to remain committed to doing what it takes in order to obtain your goal weight?

It’s too hard!

Too hard? What is going to be harder in your life, losing a few more pounds or living a life that has you less than healthy. A life that involves regular doctors visits for unnecessary ailments that are almost always going to be related to your nutritional habits.

I Just can’t eat any less than I do now.

Really? Do you think you need to eat less in order to lose unwanted weight? If you have quit eating sugar and processed foods and only eat healthy whole foods that meet all of your nutritional needs, you will have a difficult time managing to actually eat enough to not lose weight.

I’m missing out on all the fun my family and friends are having.

Is a few moments of bliss worth the life that comes from gluttonous eating of poor food choices? Is that momentary fun worth the disgust you feel when you peer upon yourself in the mirror? Is that ice cream sundae worth the expense of new clothing because even though you are at an age where your body should have quit growing, it is anyhow? Is the fun on Friday nights out having pizza and beer worth it when you are worried that you might not fit in your wedding dress you recently purchased upon getting engaged? When you have to take readings of your blood sugar and then take your diabetic drugs or insulin, is it really worth having it to join in with your co-workers when one brings donuts to the office?

I’m miserable, I feel so deprived, I’m too depressed all the time.

This is a common problem for those who know that simple carbohydrates and sugar are a problem for them, yet they refuse to quit eating it. Being miserable, feeling deprived and depressed is part and parcel to an addiction to sugar and simple carbohydrates. As long as you keep feeding the addiction, even just a little bit, you are going to feel this way. Quit sugar, quit simple carbs such as breads and pastas, and quit processed foods and soon your mood will improve as the cravings you get from simple carbs and sugar will soon subside entirely as your hormones will come back into balance.

Just one more binge with the junk food and I swear I will be over it, or, I just cannot imagine life without my favorite junk food.

No, you will not be over it. You will not be over it until you actually get it in your mind to get through the first couple of weeks after quitting sugar and simple carbs.

I’m not good at exercise and I have never really liked it anyhow.

So what? Despite the fact I encourage all who are capable of exercise to do so, it is not necessary in order to bring your weight down. Exercise is about strengthening your body and improving your quality of life, however, losing weight is still simply a matter of not consuming more calories than your body burns in a day. If you cannot lose weight, no matter what you think or believe, you are eating more calories than your body requires. Exercise just allows you to eat a few more calories than you would be able to otherwise. But truth be told, most people do not burn as many calories with their exercise routines as they believe they do. Most of the calories you burn every day are a result of body functions you do not even have to think about. It takes energy for you to breathe, and sleep, and for all of your internal organs to function. Only about 15 to 30 percent of your calories burned through the course of the day are through intentional physical activity such as walking, jogging or maybe while doing the Funky Chicken when your favorite song comes on the radio. No matter what you might think, your exercise is not your primary pathway to burning fat, it is only a fraction of it.

You don’t understand, my body is comfortable at this weight. My metabolism will not let me lose more, it’s not my fault.

Really, is it that your body is comfortable being over weight, or is it just all in your own mind? Your metabolism can be revved up through proper nutritional habits and exercise. Odds are you have a larger problem in between your ears than you do with your metabolism. Your metabolism is a dynamic element, it is not static , meaning it cannot be changed.

My hormones are out of whack, therefore I have no hope.

Have you been to a doctor and had blood work to know this for fact? If not, you are just making an assumption that is not well founded. If your hormones are not in balance or being produced in the adequate amount, your doctor can prescribe you medicines to assist with this. However, most of this can be remedied through healthy eating and exercise. You have 9 hormones that tell you to eat, and 14 hormones that are supposed to tell you when to stop. By taking responsibility to consume all the nutrients you need for proper hormonal balance most of these imbalances can and will sort themselves out. However, we do recognize your body may have a genetic glitch such as not producing enough leptin, or maybe it makes too much cortisol. Maybe none of your satiety related hormones are working at all. If that is the case, no amount of willpower is going to overcome this problem. If this is the case, then between you and your doctor, you will need to reprogram your hormonal circuitry. This is going to possibly require medications, but it is definitely going to take you making a choice to begin eating responsibly for your health. The more body fat you lose while adding lean muscle mass, the more your hormonal balance will get back into sync with your body’s needs.

I have done everything right, and now I do not know what to do in order to lose my final 20.

You probably have done everything correctly if you have successfully lost a good amount of weight over time. You may have all the keys in your hand to lose that final 20 pounds, but are overlooking an important step. That step is to continuously evaluate your caloric needs as the calories required in order for you to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week were spot on at 300 pounds, that same total might be what is required to maintain at your current weight. Worse yet, that caloric total might actually be enough for you to begin gaining weight again. You have to make continuous adjustments during your weight loss, and even once you have met your goals. For instance, the total amount of calories you burn during the summer may be significantly higher than those you burn in the winter months. Consider, 1 pound of body fat equals 3500 calories. It takes a deficit of 500 per day in order for you to lose 1 pound of fat per week. Now, let’s assume that while your body requires 2000 calories per day in order to maintain during the active months of the summer, it may only need 1750 calories per day during the winter when you are more likely to be in your home and sedentary. If you have not adjusted your intake down, you will find the fat coming back on at a rate of 1/2 pound per week with only an excess 250 calories per day over your needs. Weight management is truly a management issue. It is not difficult, but it does require constant attention and adjustments along the way. Here at David’s Way, we can help you with this. We have 600 articles and healthy recipes now which have always been, and always will be free to you. If you have questions or comments, then please do so in the comments section, or you can contact us through e-mail through our Contact Menu tab.