Focusing only on the scale

Despite living a healthy lifestyle, it's common to feel that you're not losing weight quickly enough. It's critical to keep in mind that the number on the scale is simply one indication of weight loss. Several factors impact weight, including fluid fluctuations and the quantity of food left in your system.

In fact, depending on how much food and liquid you've ingested, your weight may fluctuate by 2 to 4 pounds over the course of a few days. In addition, hormonal changes in women can cause increased water retention, which shows up on the scale. If the number on the scale isn't changing, it's possible that you're reducing fat mass but retaining water. You may also be growing muscle and reducing fat if you've been exercising. Even though the number on the scale stays the same, your clothes may start to feel looser — especially around the waist — when this happens. Even if the scale number doesn't move significantly, measuring your waist with a tape measure and taking monthly pictures of yourself might indicate if you're losing weight.