Recently I’ve heard a lot of people moaning about the dreaded final five pounds.

Among the common complaints: “I follow my diet and exercise and nothing changes! I've fine-tuned my meal plan and I am still gaining weight!”

Some of the reasons why you can't achieve the physique you desire might be because of all of the factors listed below or just a few. Take time to really think them through, and then think about your daily habits.

1. You’re focusing on a “perfect” body Instead of focusing on being healthy

During your fitness journey you don’t always have to focus on major changes to your body. Sometimes, having a goal of better health is all that’s necessary. I know this might not work for everyone but when your focus shifts to living a healthy lifestyle, your body will change right along with it.

2. You are focused on losing body weight Instead of losing body fat

Everyone wants to see that number go down on the scale but the scale does not tell the entire story. I once used to weigh myself daily. What I found was that my weight fluctuations were constant, and depended on what I had consumed, my stage of menstrual cycle or my level of stress. Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, focus on fat loss. Focus on how your clothes fit, your energy and your physical abilities. Maybe you can run for ten solid minutes when a month ago you couldn't run for two minutes straight. Celebrate your small victories and toss away the scale.

3. You are comparing yourself to others

Just because you have gained weight doesn’t mean the new body you have is inadequate, disgusting or bad in any way. It just means you are heavier. You may not be happy with your new size however your body can still do amazing things and can possibly get to where you want it to be physically. We have to remember that fitness is not just about seeing a six-pack or taking gym selfies – although gym selfies can document progress too. Comparing ourselves to others on social media is also not a healthy practice. Keep in mind that most of the models we see on social media have been dieting for those amazing photos you see.

4. You are not eating enough

This is probably hard to believe but many of us are not eating enough food each day. Most people start exercising and then start to restrict their calories. However, if you aren't feeding your body proper nutrients it will hold onto fat. You must nourish your body in order for it to perform everyday tasks and ensure that you are receiving enough nutrients to support the exercise you are participating in. I am most successful when I eat every three to four hours (four to five meals per day) with plenty of fibre and protein at each meal.

5. You are exercising too much

I recently saw a hashtag – #nodaysoff. We really need to get away from feelings of shame when we decide to take a rest day. Rest days are extremely important. Rest days actually allow your body to recover and grow. You need to take at least one to two days of rest per week. Working out multiple times per day or staying in the gym for hours isn't healthy as it can stress out your body and have many other adverse affects. While this lifestyle may provide temporary results, it will slow your metabolism down, which can take years to fix.

Think about these suggestions and B-Active For Life!

Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook