Sometimes losing weight can seem like an unachievable goal.

You are doing everything you can such as watching your calories and carbs, eating
enough protein, exercising regularly, yet the scale wont budge.
Therefore, in todays article we will explain to you why achieving your weight loss
goal can be so difficult and whether its a good idea to keep trying.

Weight Loss Is a Billion-Dollar Industry

Losing weight is big business on a global scale.

Its estimated that weight loss programs and products generate more than $150
billion in annual profits in the US and Europe alone.
Programs that require you to purchase special food, supplements and other products
tend to be the costliest.

Though fat burners and other diet pills are popular, they often arent regulated and
may be downright dangerous.
Unfortunately, even those who arent very overweight appear willing to risk the
potentially harmful consequences of taking diet pills.

A study including more than 16,000 adults found that about one-third of those who
took weight loss pills werent obese before they started taking the pills (3).
Clearly, many people spend a great deal of effort and money trying to lose weight.

And even if you dont join a weight loss program or buy diet pills or products, you
may end up devoting much of your free time and energy to the pursuit of being thin.

SUMMARY: The weight loss industry generates billions of dollars a year by

capitalizing on many peoples desire to be thin at any cost.
Why Many Women Cant Reach Their Goal Weight

Many women spend a significant amount of money, time and effort on trying to lose
weight.
Nevertheless, some seem to make little progress.

Several factors influence your ability to lose weight.

Health Conditions
 Certain diseases or disorders can make weight loss extremely difficult, including:

o Lipedema: Believed to affect nearly one in nine women worldwide, this condition
causes a womans hips and legs to accumulate excess fat that is extremely difficult
to lose. It often also causes easy bruising and pain.
o Hypothyroidism: Low levels of thyroid hormone lead to a slowdown in
metabolism that can impede weight loss efforts.
o Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This condition is characterized by insulin
resistance and hormonally driven fat accumulation in the abdomen. Its believed to
affect up to 21% of reproductive-aged women.
Dieting and Weight Loss History

If youve lost and regained weight several times in the past, or yo-yo dieted, youve
likely found it more challenging to lose weight with each subsequent attempt.
In fact, a woman with a long history of yo-yo dieting will tend to have greater difficulty
losing weight than one whose weight has remained relatively constant.

Research has shown that this is mainly due to changes in fat storage that occur after
periods of calorie deprivation.

Essentially, your body stores more fat when you begin eating more after a period of
deprivation so that it has a reserve available if calorie intake decreases again.
In addition, a recent animal study suggests that yo-yo dieting may cause an immune
response in fat tissue that makes fat loss more difficult.
Gut bacteria may play a role too. Repeated cycles of losing and regaining weight
seem to promote changes in gut bacteria that lead to increased weight gain over the
long term.
Age

Aging presents many challenges for women, including making it harder than ever to
lose weight.

Moreover, women who have never been heavy in the past may struggle to maintain
their usual weight as they get older, even if they eat a healthy diet.

Most women gain about 515 pounds (2.36.8 kg) during the aging process due to a
reduction in muscle mass and physical activity, which result in a slower metabolism.
Additionally, weight gain during menopause is extremely common due to the many
hormonal changes that occur. Trying to lose weight during and after menopause can
be incredibly difficult.
Gestational Influences

Unfortunately, your tendency to carry excess weight may be partly due to factors you
have no control over.

One of these is genetics, but other, lesser-known factors include the conditions you
were exposed to in the womb.

These include your mothers diet and the amount of weight she gained during
pregnancy.

Research has shown that women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy are
more likely to give birth to large babies who become overweight or obese during
childhood or as adults.
Whats more, a pregnant womans dietary choices may affect whether her child
develops a weight problem in the future.

A recent animal study found that rats that were fed a Western diet while pregnant
gave birth to babies that had slower metabolisms and that became obese at several
points during their lifetimes.
SUMMARY: Many factors can affect your ability to lose weight, including certain
health conditions, your dieting and weight loss history, age-related changes and your
mothers diet and weight changes during pregnancy.
Ideal Body Sizes Throughout History

Although your diet and exercise habits play a role in determining your weight, your
basic shape and size are largely determined by your genes.

In fact, research suggests that both how much you weigh and where you tend to
store fat are strongly influenced by your unique genetic pattern.
Taking steps to reduce belly fat is a healthy and worthwhile goal. On the other hand,
if you try to force your body to conform to whatever size is currently in vogue, youre
working against nature, and your efforts may ultimately lead to frustration.
Throughout history, different body types and sizes have been considered ideal.
As recently as 100 years ago, being somewhat plump was a desirable, feminine trait
in women. Thin women even tried to gain weight to become more appealing.

However, it is just as difficult for a naturally thin person to put on weight as it is for a
naturally larger person to lose it.

During the Renaissance, Dutch artist Peter Paul Rubens became well known for his
nude paintings of full-figured women, whom he believed were the epitome of beauty.

To this day, the term Rubenesque is used to describe a beautiful, full-figured

person.

In the 1800s, the French Impressionists, including Monet, Renoir and Czann,
painted women of the day who were considered beautiful.

Looking at these paintings, you can easily see that many of the women were much
larger than todays runway models.

Theres no denying that the ideal female body has changed considerably over the
past 60 years, becoming slim and toned as opposed to rounded and soft.

However, women of the past werent bombarded with often unattainable images on
the Internet and TV.

Todays women are also faced with an overwhelming number of ads for programs
and products that promise to help them achieve todays ideal body.

SUMMARY: During many periods in history, larger women were considered feminine
and attractive. However, the modern ideal body is smaller, thin and toned, which
may not be attainable for everyone.

Different Cultural Views of Weight

Although people across the US and most of Europe consider a slim body to be
attractive, people in various parts of the world prefer a larger, more rounded shape.

In many cultures, carrying some extra weight is associated with fertility, kindness,
happiness, vitality and social harmony.
 Interestingly, the wealthiest countries tend to value thinness, whereas the opposite is
true in less wealthy countries.

For instance, researchers who studied data from several non-Western societies
reported that 81% preferred plump or moderately fat women, while 90% preferred
women with large hips and legs.
However, even among developed countries, what is considered the perfect body
seems to vary greatly based on personal and regional preferences.

When 18 graphic designers from around the world were asked to modify a plus-size
models body into the ideal body, the range of results was somewhat surprising.
The modified versions had body mass indexes (BMIs) ranging from only 17 in China
to 25.5 in Spain, which is consistent with weights between 102153 pounds (about
4669 kg) for a woman who is 55 (165 cm) tall.

With the exception of the BMI of 17, which is considered underweight, this shows
that a wide range of body sizes and shapes are viewed as attractive and desirable,
regardless of how closely they resemble what is often considered ideal.

SUMMARY: The ideal body varies greatly from country to country and is often
influenced by a societys wealth and the diversity of its residents.
If You Truly Need to Lose Weight

If your size is affecting your health, continuing to pursue weight loss makes sense.

Obesity, especially morbid obesity, may increase the risk of disease and lower life
expectancy. Even further, it can make day-to-day living difficult due to decreased
mobility, low energy levels and social stigma.

Here are a few additional practices that may help you take some weight off:

o Support groups: Joining one can provide encouragement, accountability, and

motivation. In addition to general weight loss groups offline, online and on
Facebook.
o Recognize progress, even if slow: Realize that you will likely lose weight slowly
and experience some weight loss plateaus. Losing even a couple of pounds a
month is still an impressive accomplishment.
o Be realistic when setting a goal weight: Dont strive to reach your ideal weight.
Losing as little as 5% of your body weight has been shown to increase insulin
sensitivity, and further loss can lead to additional benefits.
o Celebrate non-scale victories: Focusing on improvements in mobility, energy,
lab values and other beneficial health changes is important, especially when
weight loss seems maddeningly slow.
Although incorporating these strategies into your life cant guarantee that you will
lose weight, they can help improve your chances.

SUMMARY: If being obese is affecting your health, mobility, and quality of life, taking
steps to lose weight is a good idea. Joining a support group, setting realistic goals
and celebrating your progress may be helpful.
Shift Focus to Optimal Health Not Weight Loss

For many women, weight loss goals have less to do with health than wanting to look
better.

Perhaps you have already lost some weight, but havent been able to lose that last
1020 pounds.

Or maybe you have always been a bit larger than average, but have been trying to
slim down to a smaller dress size.

Youre not alone if you feel that you have tried every diet and weight loss
recommendation, yet still havent been able to achieve results, despite your best
efforts.

If thats the case, it may be best to shift your focus to being as healthy, strong and
vibrant as you can be.

o Focus on fitness: When it comes to health, studies have shown that being fit is
more important than being thin. Whats more, working out regularly can provide
many other benefits.
o Develop a better relationship with food: Rather than dieting, work on choosing
nourishing foods, paying attention to hunger and fullness cues and learning to eat
intuitively.
o Consider the results of your previous dieting attempts: Remember that losing
and regaining weight often leads to increased fat storage and weight gain over
time.
Aside from reducing stress and frustration, shifting your focus to make optimal health
your primary goal might even potentially lead to natural weight loss over time.
 SUMMARY: If you want to lose weight to look better, but havent had success
despite doing all of the right things, it may be best to shift your focus. Instead of
trying to achieve a certain weight, aim to be as healthy as possible.

Learn to Love and Accept Your Body

Developing an appreciation for your body can be beneficial for your health,
happiness and outlook on life.

Research suggests that repeated weight loss attempts may not only lead to weight
gain, but they may also cause mood changes and increase the risk of developing
unhealthy behaviors like binge eating.
On the other hand, theres evidence that being happy with your weight may result in
healthier behaviors and better overall health, regardless of your size.
Here are some tips for learning how to love and accept your body:

o Stop letting numbers define you: Instead of fixating on your weight,

measurements or clothing size, think about how you feel, who you are and your
purpose in life.
o Avoid comparing yourself to others: Never compare your own body to someone
elses. You are unique and have many great qualities. Focus on being the best you
can be.
o Exercise to feel and perform better: Rather than working out frantically trying to
burn calories, engage in physical activity because of the way it makes you feel.
You deserve to feel your best now and in the years to come.
Realize that it may take some time to learn to appreciate your body after years of
trying to change it. Thats understandable. Just take it one day at a time and do your
best to focus on the positive.

SUMMARY: Rather than continuing to prioritize losing weight, learn to love and
accept your body so you can stay healthy and highly functional throughout your
lifetime.
The Bottom Line
In a modern-day society that values being thin, the inability to lose weight can be a
source of frustration for many women.

And its true that losing excess weight is important when it jeopardizes your health
and well-being.

But trying to achieve an unrealistic size can do more harm than good.
Learn to love and accept your body, exercise and adopt lifestyle behaviors to keep
yourself as healthy as possible and avoid comparing yourself.

Doing so may greatly improve your overall health, self-esteem, and quality of life.