6 Common Weight Loss Mistakes
You may have been trying to lose weight on and off for many years, therefore it’s clear that you know a lot about dieting! However for many in the population, something isn’t working, and obesity rates are continuing to rise rapidly each year.
The majority of the time, most of our attention is focused on what we should do, but very little attention is given to what we shouldn’t do. Let’s take a closer look at some of the weight loss mistakes many people make:
1) Having a negative attitude
A positive attitude really does help in the weight loss journey. Believing that you can change is really important. If you tell yourself you can’t succeed, you won’t - simple as that! Empower yourself by thinking positivity, and believing that you really can reach your goals.
2) Following fad diets
Examine prospective diets very carefully before you commit to them. You should ask yourself, “Can I stick with this plan for the rest of my your life?” You should also choose something which reflects your tastes, budget and lifestyle - if it doesn’t sit well with these, how can you follow the plan long-term?
It’s important that the plan you choose can also teach you something about healthy lifestyles, whether it’s how to control your portions, or how to cook healthy meals - you need to learn practical skills, which will be useful to you in the years to come. What do you really learn by following a soup diet, or by constantly counting points?
3) Skipping breakfast
Breakfast is without a doubt the most important meal of the day. Why should we eat breakfast? Well, it helps to speed up our metabolism, can be a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, improves our concentration and mood, and if these aren’t enough for you, studies also show that those who consume breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy body weight. Check out Breakfast a Fantastic Start to the Day for more tips.
4) Starving yourself
Depriving yourself of food all day in an attempt to lose more weight is counter productive. It absolutely won’t work! When we starve ourselves, food gets stored rather than our bodies using up this energy, therefore our metabolism slows down - this is the total opposite of what you want to happen!
When you do finally eat something, you’ll probably find that you reach for something unhealthy a) because you’re so hungry that you grab the quickest thing available, and b) because you feel you’ve merited it by your lack of eating throughout the day. Bottom line - eat regularly, eat whole healthy foods, and watch your portions.
5) Failing to have a plan
Goal setting is one of the most important factors in successful weight loss, and weight maintenance. What are your goals? What would you like to achieve? Writing down your goals is a very worthwhile exercise. You should note down specific, realistic goals and read over them from time to time - this way you’ll be reminded of what you’re aiming for, and it will also help you to stay focused. Check out Getting SMART with Goal Setting for more tips on how to set your personal goals.
6) Waiting until “tomorrow”
If you find yourself ‘falling off the bandwagon’ so to speak, don’t wait until tomorrow to get back on track. On your weight loss journey you will probably have many setbacks, however you need to allow for these, expect them, and don’t get discouraged when they come. Each time you have a setback, try to lengthen the amount of time between each one, and also shorten the time it takes for you to get back on track - this way you’ll gradually become more in control of the situation.
Do you find yourself putting off your start date for your new dietary regimen? Ask yourself, “What’s wrong with right now?” There really is no time like the present! Unfortunately, it won’t become any easier if you wait, so why not get the hardest part over with right now by starting today?
Remember, if I can be of any help just contact me, I’d be happy to do whatever I can.
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