Mistake #1: Starving Yourself Many people - women in particular - are convinced that they must starve themselves and skip meals in order to look the way they want. You may lose some weight this way, but most of it will be water. In fact, when you starve yourself your body protects itself by holding onto whatever fat it has, meaning you will actually store more of it!
Sadly, your body doesn't care that you just want to look good at the beach or remove those love handles - it just thinks you are being starved and may need a supply of fat for energy in case you don't eat for another two weeks.
Dieting Mistakes To Avoid - When you drastically drop your calorie intake your body will lower its metabolic rate, so that you burn fewer calories each day as compensation. It's a battle with your body that you cannot win without forsaking your health and possibly suffering an eating disorder or a permanently damaged metabolism.
Mistake #2: Not Eating Fat Don't be afraid of fat! Healthy fats are essential for health and well being. Omega 3 fish oils have been scientifically proven to help increase your metabolic rate so you burn more calories, as well as make your bones and skin healthier. Healthy fats, from nuts, seeds and olive oil are also important for hormonal balance and preventing mood swings.
Although the media has done a great job of making all fats look bad, in reality it is only fats that are heated to extreme temperatures or processed in some way that are the enemy. If the fat is from a natural source - such as lean meat, nuts, seeds or oils -then it is more than likely to be healthy.
Mistake #3: No Consistency Have you ever started to clean up your diet and eat well, only to be tempted by one small snack? Have you ever then thought that since you've eaten that naughty snack that you've blown the diet and may as well give up? Thinking this way and spending the next few days eating whatever fatty and sugary foods you like is not the answer!
If you give in to a small temptation - don't worry! Just put it behind you and get back on track. One small slip up is not the end of the world. However, losing focus and beating yourself up over it is a mistake that will keep you from reaching your goals.
Perhaps you were too strict with your diet in the first place. If so, allow yourself up to three 'cheat meals' each week, where you can still enjoy the treats you love without having to feel guilty or miserable.
Mistake #4: Cutting Out Carbs Alongside fats, carbohydrates have now gained a bad reputation among dieters. However, remember that there are good and bad forms of everything, and this nutrient is no exception. Eliminating all carbohydrates is a huge mistake that will decrease your energy and vitality.
Always remember that good carbohydrates are those that are close to nature - fruits, vegetables, oats and brown pasta and rice are the best options. It is carbohydrates that are low in fibre and highly processed that you should avoid. Such unhealthy foods include white bread and pasta, ready made frozen meals, and of course junk food.
Mistake #5: Calorie-Counting and Weighing Food I may get in trouble with advocates of certain world-renowned weight loss clubs for saying this, but I don't believe in counting calories or weighing your food to the gram. This is a habit that takes away the fun and enjoyment of eating and makes a diet demanding and unrewarding in the eyes of its followers.
The total amount of calories is rarely that significant - instead it is the quality of those calories that will make or break your efforts. Furthermore, calorie counting does not teach you to make healthy food choices or read nutrition labels properly.
The easy way to determine food portion sizes is to serve a portion of healthy carbohydrates that is roughly the same size as your one opened hand, and a portion of healthy fat and protein as large as the other hand. Natural, healthy foods often contain very few calories, so you can eat them in larger quantities without having to worry about gaining weight. Avoid these common mistakes, and start looking at food in terms of quality rather than quantity. This will put you on the fast-track to losing pounds and improving your health!
Justin Devonshire has helped hundreds of people lose weight and transform their figures with his no-nonsense, simple, yet extremely effective exercise and nutrition strategies.
Justin currently runs the ONLY fat-loss and fitness bootcamp in Cyprus. You can instantly download a FREE copy of his e-book "10 Steps to Melt Fat Fast" by visiting http://BodyshapePlanet.com
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