So you’ve just ordered the latest and greatest weight loss system and you convinced that this particular plan is going to do it for you this time. It’s great that you are taking steps to lose weight and starting down the road to better health. But beware of weight loss programs or diet plans that over-promise and under-deliver.
Remember, those so-called weight loss gurus are putting that stuff on the market for a reason. Sure, I really believe that most of them honestly desire to help folks lose weight. But there are quite a few of these plans that are simply put out there to feed on people’s fears and promise this skinny dream.
It’s great that you want to lose weight so don’t blow your weight loss plan by making some of these common mistakes. A lack of discipline may be the most harmful trait if you are trying to lose weight. Even you are motivated and disciplined, you need to ensure you aren’t getting making common errors that will halt your progress and are easy to avoid.
1. Dieting Without Resistance Training
You’ve probably heard that working out sans food forces your body to tap into fat reserves to work, but this is far from true, says Freytag. “Science has shown you need to have some glucose in your system in order to ignite your fat-burning furnaces. If you run out of stored glucose, your flame goes out, and you start burning up muscle.”
Having a little pre workout snack 30 to 60 minutes before your workout gives you the energy to go longer and harder, which boosts your burn. There are two huge problems with crash dieting. One, a lot of the weight lost is muscle tissue. That means that even if you weigh less and fit into smaller sizes of clothing, you are still flabby. Dieting slows down your metabolism. The longer you diet and the less you eat, the slower your metabolism.
2. Focusing On The Scale
You’re right that building muscle through strength training is extremely important when it comes to burning calories since muscle tissue burns more calories than body fat. But you still need cardio to burn calories to decrease your overall body fat and reveal the toned muscles underneath. Keep up with the strength-training sessions, but be sure to incorporate heart-pounding cardio as well.
3. Walking is your thing
Taking a brisk walk is a great way to lift your mood and improve your circulation, but unfortunately, it’s not a huge calorie burner. If weight loss is your goal, you must exercise for at least an hour a day, and it must be the heart-pumping kind that burns tons of calories. Jogging, hiking, biking, jumping rope, swimming, or taking a cardio class at your gym are all excellent options.
4. Skipping Breakfast
Many women skip out on breakfast before their morning workout to either save calories or to prevent digestive upset. It’s one of the worst things you can do because eating first thing not only boosts your metabolism; it also gives you energy to get through your solid calorie-burning workout. Without the proper fuel, you’ll end up with a headache, dizzy spell, and are more likely to not push yourself as hard or to throw in the towel before your workout is complete.
Remember that devouring an enormous plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hash browns is also a bad idea. Fuel your workout with something small that contains easily digestible carbohydrates and protein instead.
5. Relying on Pills
Women are generally very conscious about their looks and according to them diet pills are another common approach to lose weight. There are many different categories of diet pills available in the market, but none of them actually works. One need to apply common sense before buying these pills because the only time we see women who have gotten in great shape because of diet pills is only on the advertisement.
6. Eating Too Little
This is a big problem. Most women eat too little. Eating three square meals is just the bare minimum for a healthy and fit body. You should be eating three meals and at least two healthy snacks each day. They skip or skimp on breakfast and then often do the same with lunch. This leaves you running on fumes all day. By the time dinner comes around, you are ravenous and likely to overeat.
7. Eating Out Too Much
You just finished a kick-butt workout and burned over 400 calories, and now you’re ready to refuel with a post-workout snack. Even healthy snacks like fruit and yogurt smoothies can be high in calories, so make sure the snack you enjoy after your workout doesn’t undo all the calorie-burning good you’ve done.
8. Emotional Eating
Sometimes we eat according to our mood. Food can evoke both good and bad emotions and it is also a go-to when women feel anxious, depressed, angry, sad, or even elated. Women experience a variety of psychological attachments to different foods. Sweets are often in this category. If you are like most women, all forms of sweets serve as comfort food. If you turn to food when you are stressed, you are letting your emotions control what you eat and how much you eat. If you are going to get the body you deserve, you need to find a way to break this emotional attachment to food.
9. Lack of Consistency
Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for your two awesome workouts, but that doesn’t mean you can throw in the towel for the rest of the week. Not exercising often enough is one reason you’re not seeing the slimming results you’re after. To make that scale budge, kick it up a notch and exercise five days a week.
10. Not Enough Sleep
Sleeping is as important as doing exercise. Lack of sleep is an often overlooked factor. If you are doing everything right, but still can’t lose the fat, then you must once ponder upon your sleeping patterns. Take proper sleep and avoid taking alcohol and caffeine just before it.
