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10 Reasons You Might Not Be Losing Weight - Part 2

You're mistaking foods that you think are healthy for foods that are actually healthy.
There are certain foods that have the reputation of being healthy, but often times are not helping to push you toward your weight loss goal. While fruit juice sounds healthy, many times it's not entirely 100 percent juice and contains sugar, too. Salads are healthy in theory, but with added ingredients like cheese, high-fat dressings, and croutons, they can turn into a high-calorie and high-fat meal. Make sure you check out the ingredients before you indulge in a "healthy" food.

Your diet is stressing you out.

Getting on a health kick can feel great and give you a huge boost of energy. But if your regimen is too strict and you're worrying about having time to get to the gym, preparing healthy meals, and not snacking, losing weight is going to be difficult. When you're stressed out, your body produces cortisol, which is the fight-or-flight hormone that increases fat storage. So even though you're working out and eating healthy, if you're too stressed out about your diet or schoolwork, losing weight will be difficult. "I can definitely feel it when I'm stressed out and my body doesn't feel exactly right," says Reagan. "When I'm that stressed, I don't feel well and I know I have to budget my time better or take a little break." Take a step back and evaluate your stress level and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

You're not sleeping enough.

A lifestyle change is hard to adjust to, so if suddenly you need to fit in an extra hour of working out and an extra hour of preparing healthy meals, it's going to be difficult to still get to bed at a reasonable hour. Getting a good night of sleep is just as important when trying to lose weight as eating healthy and exercising are, so make sure that you're getting your recommended amount of shut eye. Just like being too stressed out, being sleep-deprived promotes the release of cortisol, so you could be retaining fat and not even realizing it.

You're skipping meals.
While you may temporarily feel good about yourself when you didn't eat your typically huge breakfast, in the long run, skipping meals leads to eating more at other meals or snacking on unhealthy items throughout the day. "Many people who are dieting eat very lightly all day long and then end up binging late on at night," Levine says. "You are much more likely to eat ice cream, chips and cookies at 10pm than you are at 10am, so make sure to frontload your calories so that you don't set yourself up to binge later on at night." Instead of eating like a bird in the morning in hopes of jumpstarting your diet, strive for a filling and healthy breakfast with fruit, protein and fiber, like an egg with whole-wheat toast and an orange.

You're not counting your liquids as calories.

Guzzling a can of coke or a sweetened iced tea seems like it's nothing in the calorie world because it's not solid, but it's important to include all of your beverages in your calorie count throughout the day. People tend to forget about drinks because they only satisfy thirst and not hunger. If you must drink soda, sweetened beverages, or alcohol during your diet, make sure to compensate for these calories by cutting out the same amount of calories in a meal. Or, to make things easier, swap out all drinks for water. This way, you'll stay hydrated and cut calories at the same time.

Sources:

Valerie Berkowitz, registered dietician and author of The Stubborn Fat Fix
Alyse Levine, registered dietician and nutrition consultant for Livestrong.com

College women from around the country

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10 Reasons You Might Not Be Losing Weight - Part 1

It's springtime, and with summer just around the corner, you've decided it's finally time to shed a few pounds and get into bikini body shape. You've started hitting the gym regularly, cutting back on your calories, and doing your best to limit your drinking and late-night eating. Despite all of this, for some reason, you're just not losing the weight you were hoping for. So what gives? Read on to find out the top ten mistakes you might be making when it comes to losing weight, and how you can stop making them.

You're relying too much on numbers.

Sure, the scale seems like the perfect place to start looking when you're hoping to peel off the pounds. On the contrary, however, the scale isn't always an accurate representation of how much weight you've lost. It's important to keep in mind that muscle does weigh more than fat, so if you shed some of the fat but have built muscle in the process, that success won't reflect on the scale. "The scale can devastate the most committed people into thinking they cannot lose weight," says Valerie Berkowitz, a registered dietician and author of The Stubborn Fat Fix. "I've had clients lose three dress sizes but are ready to quit eating healthy because the scale has not budged." Water weight can also affect the results on the scale, so make sure you go to the bathroom before weighing yourself.

You're not watching your food intake.

While cutting down calories when dieting is important, it's also important to watch what you're putting into your body. Counting calories that you can consume a day will definitely aid in your weight loss, but it's typically more important to cut out refined sugar and refined carbohydrates in order to get your body moving in a healthy direction. Your body will process these refined foods quickly, so even if you've had a full meal, before you know it, you'll be hungry again and tempted to snack. "When I was in high school and tried to lose a couple pounds, I didn't know that much about dieting, so I thought that just eating less would make me lose weight," says Tabitha, a junior at Southern New Hampshire University. "I was eating white bread and sugary snacks, and I would feel hungry again about a half hour after eating. Instead of the bad carbohydrates, opt for whole grains, Berkowitz says, to keep yourself satisfied for longer and more likely to resist snacking.

You're not eating enough.
Sure, drastically reducing your food intake seems like a quick fix to rid yourself of that extra flab you've acquired recently. But while strategies like this will work in the short term, in the long term, they are ineffective for losing weight (not to mention seriously dangerous), says Alyse Levine, registered dietician and the nutrition consultant for Livestrong.com. When you don't feed your body enough, your metabolism slows because your body is trying to adapt to the low food intake. You could end up losing muscle, Levine says, and when you finally do start eating a normal amount again, you'll gain weight back quicker. While it's different for everyone, Levine recommends about a 1200 calorie per day minimum for most women.

You're focusing too much on low fat and non-fat.
Low fat doesn't always mean the food is good for you, and foods that claim to be low fat typically contain other ingredients to counteract the fat. One of the most common hidden ingredient in low-fat foods is high fructose corn syrup, and while that doesn't add to the fat content, it makes the sugar content go through the roof, which equals lots more calories. "These foods are often times not healthy and are not always low in calories or satiating so you end up eating a lot of them," Levine says. "Even more, they are usually just a source of empty calories with no nutritional value." Make sure you read the ingredients and nutrition label before eating any low or non-fat foods.

You're cutting out fat completely.

While too much fat is certainly a bad thing, cutting out fat completely won't help you lose weight. A certain amount of fat is important to have in your diet, and when you cut it out completely, it can leave you still feeling hungry. "Cutting out bad fats can help, but eating healthy fats, like fish, olive oil and coconut can help keep you full and avoid a snack attack." Avoid proceed foods and fats and stick to the healthy fats instead. "I usually stick to a few whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables during the day," says Reagan, a sophomore at Trinity College. "Then, to fill me up for the night, I'll have salmon or a salad with healthy fats like avocado."

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Photoshoot: Flowers on the Sidewalk

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The Best Summer Styles For Your Body - Part 4

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The Best Summer Styles For Your Body - Part 3

Pear

Your ideal bikini bottom has high-cut legs (boy shorts and other low-cut legs cut you off at your widest point, which is never flattering) and enough coverage in back so you don't feel too exposed. Side-ties and rings call attention to your hips, so avoid those styles. To balance out your lower half, look for push-up or padded tops.

Retro Push-Up Triangle Top and Matching Bottoms, $38 and $28, Victoria's Secret; Classic Bandeau Top and Wide-Band Bottom, $46 and $40, Jessica Simpson Collection; Solid Bandeau Bikini Top and Solid Ruched Bikini Bottom, $20 each, American Eagle.

Petite

Beware of bathing suits with too much fabric; you don't want to look like you're swimming in your swimsuit! Look for a suit with high-cut legs to maximize your leg length and try a bandeau top to show off your shoulders.

Ditsy Floral Bandeau Bikini and Mix and Match Bottom, $17 each, Old Navy and White Side Tie Bikini Pant, $25 and $16, Topshop; Polka Dot Bandeau Bikini and Mix and Match Bottom, $16 each, Old Navy.

Straight

Athletic styles (like Speedo one-pieces) and bandeaus can make you look lanky, so stay away from those. Instead, embrace pretty patterns to create curves. Look for a pattern in proportion to your body size; petite girls can wear small-scale prints, while plus-size girls can go for big, bold prints. In terms of silhouettes, pair a halter top with a basic bikini bottom, or try an edgy monokini, which is a one-piece suit with cool cut-outs.

Floral Ruffle Bandeau Top and Floral Ruffle Bottom, $38 and $16, Victoria's Secret; Ruffled Bandeau Swim Top and Ruffled Bikini Bottom, $20 each, Old Navy; Hello Kitty Monokini in Red, $30, Karmaloop.

Dresses

Curvy

Shift or sheath dresses work beautifully on your body. Look for tailored dresses with defined waists to highlight your smallest point. If your dress doesn't come with a clearly defined waist, belt it for instant shape. Empire waists also work on your body; the raised waist skims over your stomach, which makes this silhouette an ideal option to emphasize a smaller waist. Pay attention to necklines: showing a little décolleté in a scoop-neck or V-neck can create a flattering, streamlined effect.

Short Sleeve Belted Sheath, $38, Macy's; Floral Garden Party Sheath, $49, New York & Company; Mesh Yoke Sheath Dress, $35, YesStyle.

Busty

Open necklines, such as scoop-necks and V-necks, are perfect on busty girls, so stock up! The lines of these looks elongate your neck without showing too much skin. If you'd prefer to draw attention away from your chest, look for eye-catching details on the lower half of the dress, like a brighter or lighter skirt or embroidery around the hem.

Sparkle & Fade Knit Circle Dress, $32, Urban Outfitters; Floral Dress, $25, H&M; Yellow Frill Hem Dress, $48, Topshop.

Pear

Lucky you – 1950s-inspired dresses are back in style. This silhouette's defined waist and flared skirt make your torso look tiny while skimming over your hips and thighs. Make sure the waist of the dress hits at your natural waist and the dress creates interest by the neckline. (Tip: If the top of your dress is plain, add a statement necklace to draw the eye up to your face.) Thanks to your small chest, you don't necessarily need a supportive bra, so enjoy wearing strapless, spaghetti strap, or backless styles!

Orange chiffon frill dress, $40, Topshop; Bouquet of Posies Dress, $25, Forever 21; Coral Dress, $30, H&M.

Petite

Elongate your neck and torso with a V-neck and lengthen your legs with a hem that hits somewhere between mid-thigh and an inch above your knee. (Sure, short hemlines make your legs look long, but don't forget there's such a thing as too short!) Horizontal stripes will make you appear shorter and wider than you really are, but vertical stripes will make you look long and lean. Some brands offer petite dresses designed with your proportions in mind, so always ask a sales associate if a store carries petite sizes.

Surplice Knit Dress, $17, Forever 21; Sleeveless Striped Illusion Dress, $26, YesStyle; Pink Dress, $20, H&M.

Straight

Sheath dresses emphasize your lack of curves, so stay away from those. Instead, create depth and volume with draping, full sleeves, ruching, or ruffles. Wrap dresses are universally flattering; on your body, they give you a slim waist and add shapely curves. You also look great in "two-fer" dresses, which look like top-and-skirt combinations. These styles visually break up your upper and lower halves to create balance in straight body types.

Ruffled dress, $30, H&M. Ruffle Floral Print Dress, $23, Forever 21; Sunday Wrap Dress, $48, Nasty Gal.

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The Best Summer Styles For Your Body - Part 2

Busty

Tiny, tight Daisy Duke shorts can make busty girls look like, well... Daisy Duke. To avoid looking too risqué, draw attention away from your chest with shorts in bold patterns and colors. You can pull off zany florals, hot pink, and pinstripes, so pick a pair with flair!

Geometric Shorts, $40, Gap ; Coral Shorts, $14, H&M ; Triple-Button Floral Short, $35, Delia's.

Pear

Pear-shaped girls, have no fear! If you find the right pair of shorts, you'll look forward to putting your gams on display. Look for shorts with moderate coverage – that means no super low-rise waists or two-inch inseams – in neutral colors for the most flattering look. (Remember the finger-tip rule from your middle school dress code? That's your perfect length!)

G by Guess Kaytlin Bermuda Shorts, $40, G by Guess; Paper Bag Shorts, $25, H&M; Black Shorts, $33, H&M.

Petite

Shorts were made for your body type! The shorter your inseam, the longer your legs will appear, so try out short-shorts, tap shorts (loose, lingerie-inspired shorts, usually with inseams no more than two inches long), or even rompers if you're feeling daring. (Remember to keep your look appropriate! Leave your tiniest shorts for the beach, please.) Clean, tailored lines without bulky pockets or cuffed hems are the chicest way to avoid overwhelming your small frame.

Laser Tap Shorts, $68, Need Supply Co.; FULL TILT Destructive Dolphins Women's Shorts, $23, Tilly's; Dot-Print Denim Shorts, $35, Delia's.

Straight

Sculpt curves by playing with proportions: Tuck a fitted top into a pair of paper-bag shorts (high-waisted shorts that cinch and tie at the waist) or shorts with bulky pockets, create an hourglass figure with a waist-cinching romper, pair a loose crop top with high-waisted shorts in a contrasting color, or wear a loose, flowy top with fitted shorts.

Leopard Tie Shorts, $48, Nasty Gal; FULL TILT Ruffle Tier Romper, $23, Tilly's; Crop Top, $12, H&M; Indigo High-Waisted Shorts, $38, Topshop.

Bathing Suits

Curvy

Treat your curves to a flirty, retro-inspired one-piece. These suits tend to offer great support up top and just the right amount of coverage on bottom, and they're way cuter than your boring black one-piece. Slip into a retro swimsuit this summer and let the Marilyn Monroe comparisons come rolling in! Alternatively, some brands offer styles that slim and streamline your body. While these can be more expensive, the confidence boost you get from trying it on may be worth the investment.

Plus Size Retro Shirred Swimsuit with Underwire, $100, Lane Bryant; Retro Swimsuit, $68, Boden USA; Ruffled Halter One-Piece, $80, Jessica Simpson Collection.

Busty

Shop for swimsuit tops the same way you would shop for a bra. Look for tops that offer ample support, like halters or bra styles. (Avoid bandeaus, which tend to slip down on larger chests. You don't want to ruin your day at the beach by worrying if your top is staying up!) Play up your chest by wearing details like ruffles, embroidery, or bright colors, or play it down with neutrals or dark colors in clean lines. You can wear a variety of bikini bottom styles, so feel free to experiment with everything from itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka dot bikinis to cute boy shorts.

Halter top, ruched side low-rise bikini, $36, Venus; Sea Glow Sliding Halter Top and Low-Rise Sexy Bottom, $48 and $16, Victoria's Secret; Underwire Top and Bikini Bottom, $17 and $12, H&M.

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The Best Summer Styles For Your Body - Part 1

We've all been there: the dress that makes your best friend look like Megan Fox makes you look pregnant; your roommate's cutest pair of shorts don't do your legs any favors. But before you jump to the conclusion that you need to lose ten pounds or that you should never wear a bikini ever again, consider learning to dress for your body type. Revered French couturier Hubert de Givenchy once said, "The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress." His advice still rings true today. Bergdorf Goodman's publicist Cannon Hodge, the voice behind one of my favorite Twitter accounts, @Bergdorfs, recently tweeted, "Identify your assets first. Then let the trends drift in." The right silhouette can make you look like a supermodel, so dress for your body type and put your best foot forward.

What's Your Body Type?

No two bodies are exactly alike, but most of us fall into a general body type. For the purposes of this guide, see which category sounds most like your body:

Curvy: You have a fuller chest and hips. Celebrity look-alike: Amber Riley.

Busty: Your chest is wider than your hips. Celebrity look-alike: Jessica Simpson.

Pear: Your hips are wider than your chest. Celebrity look-alike: Beyoncé.

Petite: You're 5'2" or shorter. Celebrity look-alike: Mary-Kate Olsen.

Straight: Your body is narrow and athletic, without many curves. Celebrity look-alike: Cameron Diaz.

Are you pear-shaped but petite? Curvy and busty? It's okay to fit into more than one category – if that's the case, lucky you! You can probably wear a variety of styles well. Feel free to draw inspiration from more than one of the categories below. Read on to find the best shorts, bathing suits, and dresses for your body – plus one cute summer trend that was practically made for you!

Shorts

Curvy

Look for shorts that hit somewhere between mid-thigh and your knee. For the most flattering look, opt for shorts that skim over your curves, rather than drowning yourself in excess fabric or squeezing into a size too small. If you're not comfortable showing a lot of leg, rock cropped jeans instead. Hitting just above the ankle, they're a totally chic alternative to shorts. (Tip: If you're worried that cropped jeans will make your legs look short, balance out the cut of the jeans with your favorite pair of heels or wedges. Your legs will look miles long!)