Ever notice how two people can eat the exact same foods, and one will lose weight while the other gains?  The simple explanation for this is that we are not all built alike.  The classic example of this is the low fat diet.  While a perfect weight loss solution for some, for many (specifically those with insulin resistance) this diet will provoke intense hunger and signal their body to store fat around their belly.

What we believe to be "normal" portion sizes had grown dramatically over the last 50 years.  "Super-sizing" of meals has skewed our sense of what would be an appropriate amount of food for a meal.  We all need to resign our memberships in the "Clean Plate Club", and not be afraid to share an entree, split it in half and take a doggie bag, or... heaven forbid... throw the extra food out!  Better in the garbage can than on your hips. Even BETTER yet, try our new Thin-cam iPhone app and get allow our experts at Thin-site to evaluate your portions on-line.

 
Yes, we live in a fast paced world.  But when we eat we need to learn to SLOW DOWN!!  Our bodies take upwards of 20 minutes from the start of eating to begin to feel full.  Most of us can shovel down a full meal in half that time.  Doing so can often leave us unfulfilled and looking for more food than we really need.  Take your time, enjoy every bite, savor the flavor and consistency... you'll find you'll not only enjoy your meals, but also naturally consume fewer calories.

 
Many people think that skipping a meal will help them lose weight.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  When you wake up, your body has been without food for often 10-12 hours or more.  Missing breakfast will cause your body to be running on an empty gas tank when it is most in need of fuel.  To prevent disaster, it will naturally shut down your metabolism by going into what we call "starvation mode."  When you do finally eat, most of those calories will be stored as fat.  Not a good recipe for weight loss success

   
One of the least recognized barriers to weight loss is the lack of sleep.  People who either don't get enough sleep, or who sleep poorly due to problems such as sleep apnea or restless legs, end up lowering their metabolism.  They also adversely affect many hormones, such as leptin, ghrelin and growth hormone, which in turn promote weight gain.  They will also find themselves tired and listless, and much less likely to exercise.  In addition, tired people tend to crave sugar and fat.  Sleeping well is mandatory for effective weight loss.

  
Not all exercise is created equal.  Many people only do cardiovascular exercises (walking, running, biking, etc) and think that's enough.  But these exercises only burn calories while you do them, and maybe for a short time afterwards.  Strength training, on the other hand, builds and tones lean muscle.  And since muscle burns calories 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you'll get much more bang for your buck.  But for the best success, do a mixture of both.

  
Many people are not aware that prescription medications can often provoke dramatic weight gain.  While you should never stop or change medications without consulting your physician, the most common groups of medications that can do this include:

Women have unique hormonal issues that can potentially provoke weight gain. What's more, these issues tend to be more common at specific ages. Untreated, these can become major barriers to weight loss. The most common are listed here:

  
A significant portion of men with serious weight issues turn out to have deficiency of testosterone.  Lack of normal testosterone levels will naturally cause a loss of lean muscle, dropping of metabolism, and gaining of belly fat.

  
We've all been brainwashed to believe that our bathroom scales are telling us how well we're doing when we diet.  However, few of us understand that your scale may be LYING TO YOU!  The correct way to lose weight is to build muscle while burning fat.  In the beginning, many people will see no change in weight, but may notice their clothes are fitting better.  THIS MEANS YOU'RE DOING GREAT!  If you believe the scale numbers, you'll become frustrated when you're actually doing best. 

On the other hand, starving your body often causes rapid weight loss, but most of it comes from muscle and water.  That just shuts down metabolism, and when you start eating again you'll regain MORE FAT!  Losing muscle and then regaining fat is what causes Yo-Yo Dieting, and why most chronic dieters just keep getting fatter and fatter.