Today, we are going to share the 7 most common mistakes that people make who are trying to lose weight:
Losing weight can be challenging and if you are not seeing any results, it can turn hope into despair. Many people, after not getting results start having self-doubt as to why they are not seeing any weight loss even when they exercise and diet?
Today, we are going to share the 7 most common mistakes that people make who are trying to lose weight:
Skipping Meals
The most common myth amongst people who are trying to lose weight is that they think starving will help them put off some pounds. However, this is not true as you end up eating extra after skipping a meal. If you think you can reduce your calorie intake this way, you are wrong. Skipping breakfast, lunch or dinner will slow down your metabolism and you will eventually overeat.
- Take a nutrient-rich breakfast
- Take a light snack between lunch and breakfast
- Similarly, you can have a snack between lunch and dinner that will prevent you from overeating
Thinking that low-fat and fat-free processed foods are healthy
Many people will include low-fat or fat-free processed foods in their weight loss diet plans assuming they are beneficial for health.
These foods contain some additives to improve taste or to increase their shell life that can incredibly damage your health. Another reason processed food is not healthy is that these are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and sugar, both are extremely harmful.
Here’s what you should do:
- Avoid processed food as much as you can
- Incorporate whole foods in your diet that contain less fat
Restricting Yourself Too Much
Decreasing your portion sizes is a great way to minimize overeating. However, if you are eating too less that you will constantly feel hungry. This signifies that your calory intake is too low and it will slow down your metabolism, which in turn hinders weight loss.
Another big mistake that most people make is that they totally cut out their favourite food or snack. Whether you are trying to change your eating habits or want to make a few lifestyle changes, you need to make sure that the change is gradual and slow.
If you cut out your favourite food, it will cause extreme cravings and to end it, you will end up gorging more than required. As a result, you might end your diet altogether.
Here’s what you should do:
- Eat an adequate portion of food that won’t make you feel too full
- Have one cheat meal per week to satisfy your cravings
Overeating just because it is “healthy food”
If you think having larger portions of healthy food isn’t bad for you, then you are wrong. Despite the healthy nutrients, if eaten excessively, even healthy food can lead to weight gain. Foods that are high in calories especially, nuts, avocados, hummus, and brown rice — can prevent you from losing weight.
To avoid taking in excessive calories — map out a proper strategy and incorporate proper weight loss diet plans in your lifestyle.
Don’t Overlook Fibre
Fibre is the most overlooked nutrient when it comes to making a diet plan. Whether soluble or insoluble, it is essential to include Fibre-rich foods in your diet plan. Known for keeping blood sugar levels in check, Fibre absorbs water from the food and turns it into a gel that passes slowly through your digestive system.
Foods that are rich in Fibre:
- Nuts
- Peeled fruits
- Beans
- Whole grain
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
Not Getting Enough Sleep
At first, it may seem like sleep and losing weight are not intertwined at all. This is not true. If you are not getting enough sleep your body will overproduce Ghrelin: a hunger hormone — while the production of Leptin: fullness hormone, will dropdown.
In short, sleeping less will make you feel hungrier and as a result, you will gorge on your favourite foods
Here’s what you should do:
- Get sleep of 7-9 hours
- Avoid staying up late at night
Cardio is not enough
We all know exercise and a proper diet go hand in hand to lose weight. But, why do we often come across people complaining that they aren’t losing weight while exercising?
One possible reason could be because you are not focusing on strength training. Many people think cardio and a healthy lifestyle is sufficient to lose some weight. However, strength training plays a crucial role in weight loss as it strengthens your metabolism and reduces belly fat.
To get the best results
- Focus on both resistance training and cardio
- If you can’t do both on the same day, perform them on alternative days