10 Reasons You're not Losing Weight

By Paige Waehner, About.com Guide

Updated June 10, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Despite what you hear on the news or read in popular magazines, not all of us need to lose weight. In fact, many of us have unrealistic ideas of what a healthy weight and body shape is. We all have different shapes and, though we can make changes to our bodies, we can only improve on the bodies we have--not turn them into someone else's body.

I have a challenge for you: Take away all the reasons you want to lose weight that have anything to do with how you look. Now, look at what's left...are there any other reasons that you need to lose weight? Are you at risk for medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease? Is your BMI in an unhealthy range? Are you within your ideal weight range? If you're at risk, losing weight may be important for staying healthy. But, if you're very close to your goal and can't seem to get rid of those last few pounds, ask yourself if you really need to lose them. Would it be possible to be happy at your current weight?

Use these resources to learn how to accept your body and appreciate all it does for you each day:

Beat Negative Thinking
What's Your Body Image?
Losing Those Last Few Pounds