Losing weight is something that many people set out to do, yet it can quickly prove to be quite a challenging journey. Despite our best intentions, many of us find ourselves frustrated when we fail to lose the weight that we set out to.
This is often merely a result of common mistakes that you may not even be aware that you’re guilty of. The good news is that all it takes is understanding these common mistakes, and you can avoid them and achieve your goals. Here are some of the most common weight loss mistakes people make and what you can do to steer clear.
Falling into the Trap of Fad Diets
All it takes is reading a few pages of a magazine, or scrolling the latest influencers to find the latest fad product or diet that promises to deliver results in half the amount of time as good old-fashioned healthy eating and exercise. Usually, these diets involve extreme calorie restriction or worse, cutting out entire food groups. While you might find yourself losing weight quickly initially, normally this is water weight or even muscle mass.
Once you return to eating normally, you may actually gain even more weight than you had before the diet. The most important thing to focus on is balanced portions that are full of nutrients and ingredients.
Consider taking the time to lay all of your food out for the week on your countertop, and premake your meals. This will ensure you get exactly the nutrition and potions you require to meet your weight loss goals
Not Setting Realistic Goals
One of the most common goals people make is setting totally unrealistic weight goals. Even though it’s admirable to be ambitious, expecting to lose an unreasonable amount of weight in too short of a time can ultimately lead to disappointment and giving up.
Instead of rushing to the finish line, aim for a slow and steady pace that is sustainable to keep up with. A healthy amount of weight loss is generally considered 1 to 2 lbs a week.
Start there and after each milestone, yourself a pat on the back! Remember, if you have a lot of weight to lose, you may lose weight quickly at the beginning, however, those last five to ten stubborn pounds will require consistent effort and commitment.
Fasting (The Wrong Way)
There’s been all sorts of talk recently about intermittent fasting. Many people swear by it as the secret to their weight loss. Unfortunately, without the right tools, people start skipping meals and assuming that they’ll immediately lose weight.
Unfortunately, this increases their hunger exponentially later in the day, causing them to overeat or make unhealthy food choices. If you’re going to try out fasting, make sure that you follow a program. There are many different fasting methods available to you, however, skipping one meal is not considered a fast. In truth, it could wind up backfiring.
