Hit a wall in your weight loss efforts? Don't fret; we've all been there. Here are some potential reasons it's happening to you, along with simple tips to break through your plateau and get the ball rolling again. Let's get started…

You are stressed out of your mind  

The effect of chronic stress causes the preservation of body fat. This can be from different causes. Not sleeping, having a stressful job, overconsuming caffeine, constantly wired and drinking too much alcohol. In simpler terms, when stressed, the fat-loss process is much more challenging.

Solution- Make it a priority to do stuff in life you enjoy. Everyday. Don't make life all about work; don't take things too seriously. Get outside and play a sport, move. Try meditating. Start with 5 minutes a day and work your way up. Maybe do a little caffeine detox if you need 6 cups of coffee to get through the day.

Above all, laugh every day. Do not go a day without laughing. Even if it's a couple of minutes to watch Seinfeld, a stand-up comedian you like, or some stupid YouTube videos, do it!

You are not moving as much as you think

A lot of Americans are sedentary most of the day. Even those who go to the gym or find an hour to get a cardio workout may not move as much as they think. Once that hour is done, what's happening the rest of the day?

Time to look at how you spend all those other hours. Are you sitting at a desk for 10 hours a day? If so, you must add more low-intensity movement into your life. When in doubt, move. Walk more! Walk before work, during work, on break, and after work. Get those steps in. Make it more enjoyable by listening to some music or a podcast you enjoy.  

If you don't like the idea of walking, how else can you get more activity? Pick up a sport, take a dance class, try yoga, or go rollerblading. The choices are endless; the important thing is you move!

Not tracking your food

I'm not telling you to become obsessive over this and wreck your social life. However, I suggest tracking what you eat for a week or two. You may find out you are eating much more calories than you initially thought. Most people tend to underestimate how much they eat.

A cool little trick is to eat some protein before you sit down to eat a meal. For example, whip up a protein shake or whack down a few pieces of turkey, then wait 10 minutes to eat your main meal. You'll find yourself with fewer cravings and eating smaller portions.

So there you have it. There could be many reasons your weight loss has stalled, but those are what I see as some of the most common roadblocks people hit on their fat loss journey. Take a hard look at where you might struggle in these areas and address them. You may find that just one of them makes all the difference and helps you to shave off some extra pounds. Hope this helps!