This is a common question that you may hear if you or someone you know is trying to lose weight. No matter how well you diet and try to lose weight, reaching a plateau is almost inevitable. There are many things that you can do to help get you through the levelling off phase of weight loss. Below is a list of common things that most people are not aware of and ways that you can get your body back on the right track again.

1. No getting enough exercise.

This is one of the biggest factors that people have to deal with as it can really hold up weight loss. Many people say that they just don't have the time to fit in exercise to help shed those unwanted pounds. Well there are plenty of ways that you can get in some time for exercise. You can park at the far end of the parking lot at work or when you go shopping, making it so you have to walk an extra distance to get to your destination.

You can also take ½ of your lunch break and go for a walk. You can even put a little extra in to housecleaning so that it can be a workout with some music. All of these little bits of exercise add up fast and before you know it you have a 30 min total workout incorporated into your day.

2. Not getting enough water.

Many people do not realize that they are not getting enough water in their daily diet. Doctors recommend that you get at lease 8 to 10 glasses of water per day with each glass being at least 8 ounces. Medical research shows that your body will automatically try to store water if it feels it is not getting enough and that is where water weight gain starts, also known as water retention. The more water you drink, the better your body will function. This means that you will be able to flush out unwanted toxins as well as fat, which can help you shed up to 10 pounds with little effort.

3. Eating too much of the wrong foods.

You can be on a diet without having to deprive yourself of the foods you love. You do want to try to stay away from the foods that pack on the pounds such as breads and starchy foods. Fried foods are also bad as they can pack on the pounds rather fast. Try to steer clear of empty calorie items such as beer and soft drinks as these can really rack up your calorie intake for the day without you realizing it.

4. Not getting enough sleep.

Your body requires a certain amount of sleep each night in order to perform at its best so you need should try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to be at your best. When you deprive yourself of the rest you need, you may start to notice that fatigue is setting in and this can cause a great deal of problems for you. You metabolism may slow down and you may find that you are more susceptible to getting sick. If you find that you are having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, you can try one of the many over-the-counter sleeping aides to help you reset your internal clock.

To help keep your diet and weight loss efforts successful, try to follow the simple tips listed above. You will find that the weight will come off easily, once your body is getting all that it needs to run at its best.