If you’re looking to get in shape and sculpt a beach body that makes Greek Gods look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, you’ve probably surfed the interwebs in hopes of finding the perfect plan to get the body of your dreams. Sadly, finding a plan on the web and executing that plan are two different things. Sometimes, you follow a diet plan to the letter, have a crazy workout session, and stay true to the cause, but the mountain doesn’t seem to move an inch. In a situation like this, it’s better to seek help and guidance from someone who knows what they are doing.

Here are 4 signs you need help when it comes to losing weight.

When you don’t know your goal:

Odds are, you’ve started on your mission to lose weight without a specific goal in mind. That’s not an arrow in the dark, statistics say that most of the people who start out on losing weight, don’t actually know where they’re headed. Do you want to lose 5 pounds? 10 pounds? A dress size? 5 dress sizes…?

Not having a specific goal isn’t a bad strategy, you know, if your goal is to work out like a headless chicken. In a situation like this, seek help from a person who knows their stuff and can guide you well on how to get the most out of your workout routine.

When you don’t have control over your eating habits:

You must have heard the saying, “You are what you eat”, and to be honest, it doesn’t get any truer than this. Dieticians say that losing weight is 30% working out and 70% watching what you eat. Personally I’d go a step further and say both of those things are 100% important! It wouldn’t matter if you exercise 23 hours a day if you eat enough pizza to make a Ninja Turtle sick and other highly processed foods in the remaining one hour. But hey, some people don’t have control as much control over their eating habits as they’d like. If you are one of those people, seeking help from a friend or from family shouldn’t be too much to ask for.

When it’s not what you are doing:

The harsh reality of life is that sometimes even when you are doing everything right, things might not work out for you in your quest. How? Maybe your internal system is at fault. Yes, some people are blessed with the extraordinary ability to digest food rapidly and staying slim even when they eat a lot. On the other hand there are some people who put on a few pounds when they walk past the window of Greggs. In a situation like this, you need a specialised training and diet plan that is focused on your special requirements, because a diet plan that works well for others might just need a bit of tweaking for you.

When there’s no motivation:

Ever had the urge to lose a few pounds when you see yourself in the mirror, and then see that urge fizzle out in 2 days? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Almost everyone goes through a similar phase. In times like these, it becomes very difficult to keep up the motivation.

This is when having your trainer and the support from your friends and family will come into play. Talk to your trainer. Work out in a motivating environment surrounded by other people on the same path. Get your friends or family to come to the gym with you. Motivation often works better when you’re not going it alone!

Some of these tips will also help when your motivation’s got up and doe a runner: 6 ways to Get (and Stay!) Motivated

Losing weight can be a stressful endeavour in itself, but when you’re faced by any of the problematic situations described above, things can get really choppy really fast. All is not lost though, everything is always under control if you know when to ask for help.