5 Weight Loss Roadblocks

Think you’re doing everything right with your diet, but still not dropping any pounds? One of the dieting obstacles below might be to blame. Avoid these five weight-loss roadblocks on the path to a healthier you:

Stress: When you’re stressed out, your body releases a hormone that causes you to crave fatty, sugary foods. Avoid stress and you might be able to resist dessert.

Unhealthy “healthy” foods: Labels such as “all natural” and “fat-free” can be misleading and may not tell the whole story. Make sure you check the nutritional facts to see exactly what you’re eating.

Not enough sleep: Too little time spent asleep may keep your body from producing hormones that regulate your appetite, causing you to overeat. To keep your diet on track, make sure you’re getting at least six to eight hours of sleep each night.

Missing a workout: We all know missing a workout means burning fewer calories, but new research shows that people who skip the gym are more likely to give in to temptation when it comes to their diet.

Eating out: Most restaurants are concerned with how your food tastes, not your waistline. Because restaurant foods tend to have more calories, sodium and fat, consider cooking more meals at home when trying to shed a few pounds.