Not Seeing The Weight Loss You Think You Should Be?
Check Out This List Of Things You Might Be Doing Wrong!
I came across this article from Fitsugar, and thought I should share it with you in case some of you aren’t seeing the REALISTIC results you think you should be getting by now! Please keep in mind that this won’t get you your dream body overnight, as awesome as that would be. There were a few things on the list that I’m glad they put on there, like “You’re Still Drinking Soda” and “Your Partner Isn’t On The Same Healthy Road” because I think these are super important but too many people don’t think about it!
Here’s the list from Fitsugar of Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight
You Overeat Healthy Foods
Nuts, avocados, whole wheat pasta, olive oil, and dark chocolate are all natural and healthy, but they aren’t void of calories.
You Don’t Eat Breakfast
Skipping breakfast may seem like a great way to save calories, but your body will actually hold onto fat because it thinks it’s being starved. Keep in mind that people who eat breakfast regularly lose more weight, so make sure to eat breakfast each morning to jump-start your metabolism. Don’t just grab anything; include protein to give yourself sustainable energy and fiber to fill you up for hours.
You Don’t Practice Portion Control
. Keep measuring cups and spoons on hand to make sure your serving sizes are appropriate, and learn how to give your body the “I’m full” signal in order to help you drop the fork when the time is right and move on with your day.
You Eat While Standing Up
Standing at the fridge or the counter to chow down isn’t saving time or energy and can lead to mindless eating.
You Don’t Sleep Enough
Making time for your workouts can mean less time for sleep, but it’s important to get enough Z’s if you’re trying to lose weight.
You Overindulge in Low-Fat Foods
Going for foods with a lower calorie count can be deceiving, since many times they’re filled with extra sodium, sugar, or chemical additives to make up for the ingredients the company has removed or decreased. Not only are these light versions less nutritious, but they also end up tasting “lighter,” leading you to eat more. You’ll probably end up consuming more calories than you would if you just ate a regular-sized portion of the real thing.
You Don’t Get Enough Veggies
Eating five to seven servings of fruits and veggies a day is important for everyone, but dieters who go heavy on the produce are more likely to lose and keep the weight off, since a diet full of plant-based foods offers a greater variety of nutrients with fewer calories — and all that fiber keeps the body feeling fuller longer.
You Think Walking Your Dog Is Enough
A 15-minute stroll is better than nothing, but don’t expect to see dramatic weight-loss results
You Don’t Cut Your Food
Something as simple as slicing up your dinner can be helpful for your overeating woes.
You Still Drink Soda
Soda offers literally no nutritional benefits, and continuing to drink the beverage is sabotaging your weight-loss goals — even if you only drink diet.
Your Partner Isn’t on the Same Healthy Road
A partner who’s on a similar path can be a huge help to your weight-loss goals, but if your partner is not on board, then your relationship may be making you fat.
You’re Addicted to Condiments and Toppings
A salad is one of the healthiest meals you can have, but when you top it with bacon bits, goat cheese, nuts, dried fruits, and ranch dressing, you can double the calorie amount in a flash
You Don’t Drink Water
Besides keeping you hydrated, drinking water on the regular, according to recent studies, can aid with weight loss. Filling up on water before a meal helps encourage portion control, and eating foods that contain a lot of water (like fruits and veggies) will fill you up faster, causing you to eat less.
You Don’t Leave Time For Fun
Since stress is shown to cause weight gain by triggering the body to eat more — especially foods high in sugar and fat — make sure you give yourself time to relax and unwind.
You’re on a Diet. Well, Sort of . . .
Whether you’re on Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or your own diet-and-exercise plan, you can’t do it halfheartedly and expect to see results. Stay committed to your plan, or you’ll see the pounds stay on your tush instead of dropping from the scale.
You’re Always Dining Out
Hitting your favorite restaurant is a great way to unwind, but you’re more likely to indulge in a huge meal complete with appetizers, drinks, fried foods, and dessert.
You Don’t Keep a Food Journal
Writing down what you eat is an essential way to monitor daily caloric intake. Don’t think it’s worth the effort? A study from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics surveyed 123 women and found that those who were the most successful at losing weight monitored their food intake by keeping a journal.
You Exercise With an Empty Stomach
If you regularly exercise without eating first, you should reconsider: when you work out on an empty stomach, research shows that the calories burned come from muscle, not fat. Since muscle burns more calories than fat, the more muscle mass you have, the better it is for weight loss. Not only will fueling your body help you avoid losing muscle, but also, you’ll have more energy to push yourself through your workout.
You Only Do Cardio
If you live on the treadmill but never lift a pound, then you’re missing out on one of the most important pieces of the fitness puzzle. Not only does weight training prevent injury by strengthening the joints, but it also builds muscle mass and increases metabolic rate.
You Eat Without Thinking
Aligning mealtime with a screen like your computer or the TV can be hurt your weight-loss goals. Designating a special time for meals without distractions will help you connect to your food and, as a result, eat less. Sometimes you don’t even realize how much you’re scarfing when your mind is somewhere else.
You Wear Clothes That Are Too Big
Loose clothes are comfy, but they cover up the body and allow you to forget what you look like, which can work against your fitness motivation.
You Don’t Eat Enough
Don’t starve yourself to save calories for later. It’ll not only mess up your metabolism, and by dinnertime, that famished feeling will likely cause you to eat more than you would if you weren’t starving. Not only is starving yourself not sustainable for continued weight loss, but also, limiting yourself to too-small portions can lead to excess snacking between mealtimes
You Leave Out Entire Food Groups
Giving up entire food groups can lead to a nutritional deficiency — not to mention trigger major cravings for whatever food has been cut. Rather than, say, eliminating all carbohydrates, focus on whole grains and remember to monitor portion control. Usually it’s the extra servings that add to your waistline, not the pasta itself.
You Never Indulge
In an otherwise healthy diet, eating a few french fries or a piece of chocolate cake isn’t going to ruin your weight-loss goals. A study found that it isn’t necessary to up workout intensity the day after a piece of cake and that a daily variance of as much as 600 calories won’t reflect on your waistline, as long as you maintain a healthy diet in the long run.
You Eat the Wrong Post-Workout Snacks
A post-workout snack is just that — a snack. And unless it’s mealtime, what you eat after an average workout should be around 150 calories. Since healthy foods like trail mix can be high in calories, measure out a serving instead of mindlessly chomping straight out of the bag.
What habits did you recognize that you’re still doing? I know I eat fruits and veggies basically all day every day, but I should probably start using portion control!