Copyright (c) 2008 Ed Scow

I've been told by some of my friends and clients that they just can't lose fat.

They try and try, but nothing happens.

They exercise. They eat "right". They do all the right things.

Does that sound familiar?

However, when I dig down deeper and ask some questions I find out that they're all doing one thing wrong. It comes in different forms, but it's all the same mistake.

They think that if they have a really good workout, they can "reward" themselves with an unhealthy snack.

Or, if they have had a really hard day/week, they give in to some temptation or comfort food.

It's just this one time, right?

Many people think that just because they exercise that they can eat more unhealthy foods and not have any consequences. After all, exercise burns calories and so if you eat extra calories they won't matter in the grand scheme of things, right?

Have you ever had that thought?

Or have you told yourself that if you stay diligent and focused all week that you can let it all hang out on the weekends, because you deserve it after all your hard work?

Or maybe you're the emotional eater who stays disciplined 80% of the time, but there are those days that make you want to pull your hair out (or someone else's) and you cope by drinking alcohol or eating ice cream or cheeseburgers.

Those are all hidden mistakes that will wreak havoc on your fat loss goals.

Never lose sight of the fact that you're trying to LOSE FAT and, if that's what you're after, you have to keep an eye on everything that goes in your mouth (or doesn't go in your mouth).

You can't justify eating whatever you want just because you're active. That may be fine for the 20 year old collegiate athlete, but not the 40 year old, mostly sedentary, except for the 30-45 minutes of exercise 3-4 days per week man or woman.

Nor can you give in whenever your kids, husband, wife, job, neighbors, or whatever the trigger is, drives you a little crazy.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for rewarding yourself once and a while. I adhere to the 90/10 rule, where I stay disciplined 90% of the time and 10% I can "loosen the tie" so to speak and have unhealthy foods or a little alcohol. That's what I preach in my Fat Loss To Go program and what I preach to my clients.

Sometimes this mistake is known and sometimes it's "hidden", but I want you to really look at your eating habits and ask yourself if this mistake fits you.

Do you justify eating those junky treats because you deserve it after that awesome workout?

Do you reach for the "Chunky Monkey" ice cream after a hard day's work?

Do you justify eating and drinking whatever you want on the weekend because you stayed disciplined all week?

If you answered yes to any of those, or if you thought of your own, change those habits and you WILL lose fat. That I can promise.

Have a great day!