10 Hidden Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight from ivillage.com

Reason #1: You Don't Realize That Sugar Lurks Everywhere. Many foods that we don't think of as sweet, like pasta, soups, cereal, salad dressings and sauces, contain sugar and often it goes by another name like agave nectar, high-fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, fruit juice concentrate(s), glucose, dextrose, sucrose, honey, malt syrup or molasses -- just to name a few

Reason #2: You Choose "Healthy" Processed Food. Foods labeled "low sugar," "low sodium," "multi grain," "organic," "natural," "vitamin-enriched," "high fiber," or "sweetened with honey or agave" may be high in calories or hidden sweeteners or unhealthy additives. And if you assume it's healthy, you may eat more of it.

#3: You Snack On Nutrition Bars. If you eat them in the normal course of your day, choose 100-calorie bars for a snack and 350-calorie bars for a meal (and don't combine with them other high-calorie foods) and avoid bars with trans fats.

Reason #4: You Exercise Too Leisurely. If you rely on the calorie counts on machines or the numbers of calories you'll burn promised to you by instructors you could be exerting too little effort to jump-start weight loss. To burn 100 calories an hour, you need to maintain a high level of aerobic activity the entire hour.

Reason #5: You Ignore Fiber Fiber-rich foods are good for weight-loss in two ways. They require more calorie-burning effort during digestion and they are filling and satisfying, which helps curb cravings.

Reason #6: You're Seduced By "Diet" Foods. Beware of baked chips, whole grain pretzels, low carb dressings, diet sodas, frozen prepared diet entrees and fat-free deli meats. Many of these "diet versions" are actually high in sodium, which can cause fluid retention; or sugar, which can create a rapid rise and fall of blood sugar, triggering another cycle of eating.

Reason #7: You Skip Breakfast. More and more research shows that breakfast eaters lose weight and keep it off more easily than those who skip the morning meal. And the heartier the breakfast, the better – you'll be less likely to overeat later in the day.

Reason #8: You Forget About Fat. Pizza isn’t the only food that’s high in oil and fat. Muffins are, too. A lot of processed and refined foods have hidden trans fats, which are partially-hydrogenated oils that can clog and damage your arteries. These fats are predominantly found in fried foods and processed baked goods, stick margarines and shortenings.

Reason #9: You Eat Out Too Much. Studies suggest that eating out socially often means eating more. Between bread or chips, appetizers, wine and dessert -- on top of an entree -- you can consume a lot of calories without realizing it.

Reason #10: You Eat “Unclaimed” Calories. Do you take candies or treats from bowls at work? Do you sample food from your partner’s plate? Do you nibble and taste as you cook? These unaccounted for calories add up.