Many people say that they want to lose weight - yet few people actually do. It is amazing sometimes. You can meet someone that has every advantage when it comes to their diet. They have healthy food in the refrigerator, a gym membership and time to work out. But they still don't work out. Then you meet someone else who seems to have a much harder time losing weight and they succeed. Perhaps they have a full time job and several kids to take care of. They can only work out twice a week. They also have to prepare tempting meals. The difference often can be that the person who does not succeed is dealing with something that is sabotaging their weight loss.

Sabotage is subtle: sometimes you can recognize it and other times you just don't. A very easy weight loss sabotage to recognize is the mother-in-law who tempts you with a large piece of apple pie saying, "Oh but you're so skinny! You don't need to lose weight. Besides, I made this just for you!" So the mother-in-law makes you feel guilty and you eat the calorie-laden apple pie. This is sabotage that you can recognize easily.

Other sabotage is harder to realize but still gets in your way. Sometimes your schedule does not support weight loss -- and you need to preplan your meals and snacks for best success. You are used to grabbing fast food full of calories because it is easy but this doesn't have you sticking to your diet. This is also sabotage - sabotage that you are doing to yourself. Every form of sabotage that you remove has you moving closer to your weight loss goal.

To recognize sabotage think about your day and what about your weight loss was or wasn't successful. If you weren't successful or something was hard to deal with -- what made it hard? This is often a sign that there is something that needs to be changed. Many people on weight loss plans need to make both large and tiny changes to their lives. Realize that the life you have now has been keeping you fat. The new life that you create will help to keep you healthy and thin. Every positive change you make brings you closer to removing sabotage and succeeding towards your weight loss goals.

Sometimes sabotage comes in the form of people. People can be jealous or startled that we lose weight. Sometimes they just don't like it when things change. Relationships do change when you lose weight. If someone is pushing food on you or encouraging you to forget about your diet - they are sabotaging you. This sabotage can come from someone who is healthy or overweight. But recognize that their sabotage is simply their problem and you need to deflect them.

Other sabotage is internal. We get upset at ourselves and we binge on junk food. Or we feel stressed so we eat cheesecake. These are both forms of sabotage. These are negative habits you have picked up that need to be turned into positive habits. Every negative habit needs to be replaced with a positive habit. As you make changes you'll move closer to the ideal body you've always dreamed of.

The most important thing to know about sabotage is that it does happen - but it doesn't have to stop you. Simply recognizing that it is happening can often make you aware of the problem enough to have the courage to make a change. Every change you make lets you feel stronger to make yet another change. Don't let sabotage hold you from your weight loss goals!