Today we will be telling you about the most common weight loss mistakes that every beginner do.
Following A Diet
Now distinguish between a diet and a lifestyle. A diet is something that we do for a short-term gain, whereas a lifestyle is something that you can see yourself doing truly for the rest of your life, and that’s where you want to focus your attention. That if there was a diet out there that really truly worked we would have all already known about it by now and we would all be skinny.
Short Term Gains
Now anything that promises instant results is a gimmick. This can be a diet. This can also be shakes, bars, pills, light therapy, laser therapy, the list goes on. At least this way you can save your money and instead spend your time focusing on long-term gains. Changes that you can make slowly and strategically to get to the results that you are hoping for.
Restricting Calories
Now restricting calories puts our bodies into a state of “Ketosis” it’s called. This is why those Paleo diets and those ketogenic diets are all the rage right now. Calorie restriction is truly not sustainable in the long term. The problem here is that calorie restriction slows the metabolism. Studies show that even long after calorie restriction is over, people who eat in this way tend to have a very unhealthy relationship with food. So again, we want the focus here not to be calorie restriction, but rather healthy lifestyle changes.
Skipping Breakfast
Time and time again studies are showing us people who have breakfast tend to be of a lower weight and are better able to maintain weight loss than those who don’t. Now I get it too, that skipping breakfast can seem like a really easy way to cut calories. But what ends up happening is unplanned snacking, grazing and overeating later on in the day. So most certainly have some breakfast and try to include more fiber in your breakfast. Things like whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds to help keep you full for the entire morning.
Losing Track of Snacks
Now mindless munching can really add up. We are not saying don’t have a snack. We are just saying watch the grazing and instead maybe have some planned snacks.
Not Snacking At All
Now, some people can not snack at all and they do just fine. But if your track record indicates that you’re somebody who really needs a snack, and I am certainly one of those people, then do, please, have some snacks! Just plan for them. By planning your snacks and not depriving yourself you’ll be better able to control your hunger and lose weight. This is also especially important if you’re going to otherwise be going six to eight hours between meals. Snacking helps to keep the metabolism in high gear. Try some fruit, some homemade oat bars or a small handful of nuts or seeds.
Sipping Calories
For some people, this is the silent culprit. I’m all for drinking smoothies and having occasional juices. But I’m talking about excess. Excess juices, sodas, alcoholic beverages, or those specialty coffees. You know the ones like from Starbucks that have 500 calories per cup! I mean that’s a whole meal in a cup! So stay hydrated. Just sip smart.
Drinking Too Little Water
Now some people don’t realize this, but water really is essential when it comes to burning calories. When you’re dehydrated, your metabolism drags, which means slower weight loss. Try getting in the habit of having a water bottle with you at all times and maybe also getting in the habit of having a glass of either water or tea at every meal and snack time.
Eating Out
Drive-thrus and cafeterias add loads of oil to their foods to keep you coming back for more because of the flavor that it might add. Of course this is going to be a lot higher calorie than if you were just to make it for yourself at home. So certainly eat out on special occasions, or as a treat, but not as a ritual. Maybe you can get in the habit instead of meal prepping or batch making your meals on your evenings off. That way you’re going to be spending less time in the kitchen. And it’s also going to help you with your weight loss goals. Plus, it’ll save you some money.
Focusing on willpower
Now studies are showing us time and time again that willpower is a “depletable” source. It means that if you’re going to be focusing on willpower to try to eat better or to exercise more, you’re going to maybe find that it’s not going to work. And this really leads to frustration for a lot of people and self blame for not being able to stick with something when really, it’s not your fault.
Tunnel vision
Are you focusing on just one thing as being the source of your weight loss? Is only the food changing? Or only the exercise? Food or activity and isolation will certainly help a little but it might not get you entirely or fully to your weight loss goals. You want to be looking at a whole wellness approach to health. So this means adequate hydration, adequate sleep, lack of substances and even a positive emotional state. You may have heard that increased stress levels also increase Cortisol in our body and that can actually cause weight gain and impede any attempts at weight loss. So do what you can to find some zen.
Setting unrealistic goals
Now again, your intentions with this one may be pure but do you find that you’re setting these goals that you just can’t stick with? Well, instead of getting frustrated at yourself, it might be more productive to look into seeing if you can find some one-on-one counseling or nutrition coaching.