5 Weight Loss Mistakes

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Five of the Most Common Mistakes People Make When Trying to Lose Weight

Patrick Allan

No matter what kind of approach you’re taking to lose weight, there are a few common mistakes that will always undo all of your hard work.

Losing weight is never easy. Whether you’re exercising more, trying a certain diet, or just eating less in general, you have to remember that losing weight is a process with a lot of variables that can affect your progress. This video, from the PictureFit Youtube channel, points out five of the hidden barriers people run into when trying to shed a few pounds:

Not knowing how much you eat: Counting calories is difficult, and most people will underestimate their daily calorie intake by as much as 50% if they try to do it in their head. Use a calorie counting app or web site to help out. It won’t always be 100% accurate, but it’s better than trying to guess on your own.
Feeling obligated to finish your plate: You may tell yourself that you don’t want to waste any food, but going for those last few bites can cost you. Ditch the “might as well eat it” mentality and save food for later. Not finishing your meal doesn’t have to mean throwing it away. Ask for a box as soon as you order food at a restaurant so you’re not tempted, or even use smaller plates when you’re at home.
Doing long, tedious workouts: If you don’t love to run, doing it for an hour every day is boring and difficult. And that usually leads to you not wanting to do it anymore, so you stop exercising entirely. Find something that you somewhat enjoy, or at least try something that takes less time, like high intensity interval workouts.
Expecting to see results too quickly: Getting in shape and losing weight takes a long time—at least if you want to actually stay in good health. Don’t give up just because you don’t look like a supermodel after exercising for a couple weeks. Shoot for losing one to two pounds per week.
Trying to do too much at once: Losing weight requires you to develop several good habits: eating less, counting calories, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, getting plenty of sleep, and more. If you try to establish all of those habits at the same time you’re sure to fail. Ease into things and gradually work your way to a more healthy you.
If you want to see real results, you have to keep those things in mind at all times. Remember, losing weight is a process that ramps up over time, not an intense couple weeks of misery. Stay the course, results will come.