1. One-food wonders
Things like 'the cabbage soup' or 'the grapefruit diet', when you eat only certain foods for a period of time, are not a good way ensure lasting weight loss. The weight you lose is because you are starving your body and weight loss is short-term.
2. Becoming Vegetarian
Becoming vegetarian is great. A vegetarian diet is associated with many health benefits. But becoming a vegetarian to lose weight is not the way to go. First, you are cutting out an important food group (meat and/or diary). Also, you may end up gaining weight. This is because many vegetarian dieters do not lower their calories they just switch to eating vegetables. Just because it is vegetable tempura does not make is less calories than chicken tempura.
3. Good foods gone bad
Studies tell us that foods like: nuts, chocolate, avocados, and oils are good for us. And they are, but too much of a good thing is never good. Calories from these foods can add up and may lead to weight gain. For example, one ounce of nuts (about a small palmful) is around 200 calories. Eating more than one handful can quickly add up the calories.
4. Cutting out all carbs
Our bodies run on carbohydrates. It is our number one source of energy. Like a vegetarian diet, you lose weight easily because you cut out a food group and a major source of daily calories. Keeping good carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, will keep variety in your diet along with important nutrients like fiber.
5. Depriving yourself
Telling yourself that you are not going to have dessert every night is a good diet goal, but saying that you will never have sugar again is just wrong. Denying yourself of foods you love will lead you to overeating, beating yourself up, or giving up. Allow yourself to indulge a little, but in moderation.
6. Favoring fat free foods
Cutting down on fat, good. Cutting out fat, bad. Fat free does not mean calorie free. When a product comes out with a 'fat-free' version, usually the calories are the same, but the fat is replaced with sugar, salt, and other flavor fillers. Always make sure you check the nutrition panel.
7. Continuous grazing
Snacking can help you not overeat later in the day, but be aware of what and how much you are eating. A few almonds can turn into a whole bag very quickly and lead to sabotage number three.
8. Unrealistic weight loss goals
Weight loss shows have demonstrated you can lose a lot of weight in a short period of time. What we do not realize is that the people on those shows exercise four or more hours a day to lose that much weight in a short period of time. One to two pounds a week is a good steady goal and is something to be proud of!
Comments