1. All Or None
You might be following a diet but sometimes you can’t help yourself and eat things you shouldn’t. When that happens, don’t call it a day and try not to eat next time. Maybe you were invited to a dinner or you get got an opportunity to eat somewhere special, you don’t need to skip these opportunities and don’t let these small treats ruin your diet. If you eat more yesterday, try to eat less today or any day you feel like it.
2. Food Labels You Don’t Read Or Understand
If a food is “95% fat-free”, it doesn’t mean it is healthy to eat. Same thing goes for “sugar-free” foods or drinks too. There might be less fat or sugar but some ingredients and chemicals are way more harmful than these and cause obesity.
3. Attempting To Lose More Than 2 Pounds A Week
Losing weight in a short time may be cool and you might be thinking about surprising your friends but losing more than 2 pounds a week is not healthy and it means you have also lost valuable liquids and muscles from your body. Divide and conquer, maybe small amounts but steady and continuously; Rome was not built in a day.
4. Starving To Lose Weight
When there is no food to digest, your stomach sends a signal to your brain to slow your metabolism to keep you from dying. That’s the reason why people eat snacks while following a diet, they are trying to keep their metabolism working all the time. However, that doesn’t mean you need to keep your stomach filled all the time. Eat small amounts just for your metabolism and starving to death is not an effective way to lose weight.
5. Setting Unrealistic Goals
There is nothing motivates you more than reaching your goals and fulfilling your dreams. That’s why people are able to be successful when they visit a dietitian. Because dietitians are able to set realistic and attainable goals for their customers. Instead of saying “I will lose 40 pounds within a month.” Say something smaller and plan ahead.
6. Not Using The Power Of Distraction
When you are at home and nothing to do, you always think about eating, right? Maybe you need to stay at home but you can find things that can distract you. You can start a new series or maybe an anime, but the key point is to distract yourself and keep your mind occupied.
7. Forcing Yourself To Lose Weight
Instead of forcing yourself, you need to think it as something you want. You don’t have to look like a model because it is a job and this is how they make a living. When you force yourself to do something, you hate that thing. Losing weight is not something you should hate, think it as just a lifestyle some people can maintain and if they can do it, you can do it too.
8. Pre-Diet Feasts
You just keep delaying the inevitable by doing that. There is also a thing called “treat day” or “cheat day” where you can eat whatever you want even if you follow a diet. You are just going to be fit and healthy, following a diet is not the end of the world.
9. Not Drinking Enough Water
If you drink water only when you are thirsty, you have been doing it wrong all along. Your body needs water to keep your metabolism going and you can’t boost your metabolism without drinking enough water. You don’t have to fill your stomach with foods, you can also use water just to fill your stomach. Filling your stomach with water is way healthier than filling it with calories.
10. Not Working Out
Some people have a slow metabolism and no matter what they eat or what they don’t eat, they can’t lose weight. Working out boosts your metabolism and once you get used to working out, your metabolism keeps working and you are able to burn calories even if you do nothing. Sometimes, stress may also cause weight problems and working out is a great medicine when it comes to stress. Don’t you have time to work out? Then try walking after work, you can even return home on foot if the distance is not too long. You can start with 30 minutes and increase it week by week until you are completely satisfied with the results.