Losing weight is a challenging task for most people. Your body naturally resists losing fat, so it becomes a constant uphill battle. Even worse yet, you can find many examples of misleading information on the internet that cause “yo-yoing” of your weight. We are here to set the record straight and let you know what NOT do do in your quest toward losing weight.
PITFALL #1: Dieting in spurts
Yes, if you go on a crash diet that severely restricts your calories for a period of time you will lose weight. The problem is a diet like that will sap your energy and it is not sustainable. When you go back to eating normally that weight you lost will pile right back on. Furthermore, a restrictive diet will cause you to binge after, so you will most likely gain all of that weight back and then some. If something is being touted as “The “Something” Diet”, avoid it. Make healthy food choices all of the time, and let yourself cheat once or twice a week. This will make your new choices a part of your life so that you’re much less likely to binge after.
PITFALL #2: Falling victim to the newest fad
Let’s get one thing clear…”organic” does not mean the item is healthier. 10 organic candy bars are still 10 candy bars. Being organic does not mean the item is any better for you nutritionally, it only means it wasn’t produced with certain chemicals. For example, one cup of grapes has 23 grams of sugar and 27 grams of carbohydrates. Losing weight is about calories in vs. calories out, and to lose weight you simply need to have more going out than coming in.
PITFALL #3: Skipping Breakfast
Logically thinking, if you skip breakfast you’re eating fewer calories, therefore you should lose weight. Unfortunately it’s just not that easy. Eating in the morning kick starts your metabolism for the day and gives you healthy calories you can use throughout your day. By eating a healthy breakfast you are maximizing your fat burning potential for that day. Never skip it, and keep it healthy.
PITFALL #4: Avoiding fats altogether
There is a difference between “healthy” fats and “unhealthy” fats. Eating fat doesn’t make you fat. By keeping a healthy diet of good fats you are keeping your body running smoothly, think of it as keeping oil in your car. Fat keeps your joints and heart lubricated and keeps you healthy for the long term. Focus your fat intake on healthy Omega-3’s and -6’s such as nuts, fish, and avocados.
PITFALL #5: Swapping real sugar for artificial sweetener
Swapping out sugar for zero calorie sweetener sounds like a good idea when you’re losing weight, but the scientific researchers disagree. It has been shown that artificial sweeteners increase your cravings for sweets later on causing you to binge. Not a good strategy when you’re actively losing weight.
So there you go! avoid these 5 common pitfalls of losing weight and you will keep seeing that number fall. Make a plan, stick to the plan, and get lifting!
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