One thing to get familiar with if you want to lose weight is the concept of the calorie. A calorie is a measure of energy, which is used up in your bodily functions, and replenished by the food you eat. The difference between calories consumed and calories burned becomes the weight you gain or lose.

Free online calorie calculators can accurately tell you how many calories there are in most commonly consumed foodstuffs, and how many are burned in common daily activities. Sometimes, however, you just can’t lose weight even though you should have shed the kilos long ago according to the Internet.

What could be going wrong?

Firstly, get rid of the hidden calories – the crackers, caffeinated or flavored drinks, salad dressings, nuts, chocolates etc sneaked in between meals can almost double your daily calorie intake, while you think you’re sticking just fine to the recommended chart. If you’re hungry between meals, eat fruits or salads instead.

Secondly, you might have a hormonal disorder – thyroid is a common culprit – that causes you to gain weight. Take medicines and supplements as required. Or even without a disorder, you may just have a slow metabolism, in which case metabolism accelerators like caffeine, green tea, and vitamin C in small doses could be effective. A faster metabolism burns more calories even while resting.

Also, make sure that you aren’t tired or hungry when you work out. Your stomach should ideally be half-empty while exercising, so eat a light snack about 90 minutes before hitting the gym. If you are feeling sluggish for any reason, you’ll be tempted to skip the toughest exercises, or you won’t be able to perform them with full accuracy, resulting in less burned calories.

Another key to losing weight is to time your routine right. Do not work out excessively, but do so strategically. A short workout 2-3 hours before bedtime, or before a long sedentary phase, will burn more calories even while you’re lying around doing virtually nothing.

All people have different bodies with different needs. If your weight loss refuses to get kick-started despite sticking to a strict routine, consider going for an alternative plan. Remember to listen to your body and read the signals it sends you – slowly but surely, those spare calories will start to burn off.