It’s hard to lose weight. This is made more difficult when forced to face these harsh truths.
Losing weight is easy on paper. It’s all about eating fewer calories each day. It’s not easy in reality. Many factors can affect weight loss, and many people don’t realize they are affected. The Houston weight loss clinic will discuss these six common mistakes that can hinder your weight loss efforts. However, if you know them, you will avoid the most common weight-loss pitfalls.
A short-term mindset is what you have
Although everything on this list is hard to believe, it is the most difficult to accept and change. You may have trouble losing weight if you adopt a short-term mindset.
You may lose 10 to 20 pounds in weeks without a long-term strategy for weight loss. Then you will experience a rebound if you decide that the plan is not working. People who follow strict diets like keto, paleo, or other fad diets promise quick weight loss. This is quite common. A balanced diet that includes all food groups, and some treats, is the best long-term option for most people.
A vital part of a successful and sustainable weight loss is understanding that it takes time. Part of a successful, sustainable weight loss — i.e., losing the weight and keeping it off — is to understand that extreme exercise, fad diets, and detoxes don’t always work. They don’t last as long your willpower lasts. I’m willing to bet it’s less than two weeks to a few months.
There are no magic bullets, quick fixes, or miracle cures for weight loss.
A general recommendation for weight loss is one to two pounds per week. However, people who are highly overweight might lose more weight than that. Then, the recommended one to two-pound per week rate will be followed by a slowing down to the suggested one or two pounds. This is a proven way to lose weight quickly without losing too much lean tissue or water. It also avoids rebounds.
You are a believer in either all or nothing
Long-term weight loss is possible by changing your mindset from all-or-nothing to an all-or.
People who struggle with a short-term mindset also have problems with an all-or-nothing mentality. This mindset is what I used to start my fitness and health journey. I eliminated all processed foods. Literally! I ate no bread, pasta, milk, cheese, or individually wrapped snacks. I mainly survived on chicken, vegetables, and berries.
It was beautiful until it wasn’t. I went on a CVS search for every piece of chocolate and Goldfish that I could find. Because I had “ruined” my diet, I decided to eat everything I could because “Why not?” It was already ruined.”
I would then feel guilty about what I ate and return to my restrictive diet the next day. It’s a dangerous cycle, and it’s one I see with my training clients all the time. A lose-gain-lose mindset can lead to a constant cycle of guilt and shame around food.
This “all-or-nothing” concept also applies to fitness. If you have been doing the most effective workouts to get in form in the shortest amount of time but aren’t feeling stronger or fitter, it could be because you’re doing too much. It could be counterintuitive that reducing your exercise can help you improve your fitness and play the long game.
There is no support system
You can find support online or in-person from other community members to help you lose weight and keep fit.
It is essential to have support from family members, friends, and significant others for successful weight loss. My trainer clients used to ask me what the most significant reason was for people not following a healthy diet. I would answer stigma.
That’s right. It’s not as silly as it seems. People are often ridiculed for being healthy, especially in areas where food is a significant part of their culture. This was something I saw a lot growing up in southern Louisiana, near New Orleans.
At family gatherings or social outings, I would get comments such as, “That’s all your eating?” Or, “You aren’t going to eat dessert?” Or, loaded with sarcasm, “Next Time, we’ll have a salad potluck.”
It is not fun to be mocked or laughed at, especially when it comes to things that you care about (like health). It’s easy to get caught up in the trap of drinking and eating for your social life. A solid support network is crucial for long-term weight loss. It can be lonely and daunting without it.
Talking to your family, friends, and partners about the lack of support is an excellent way to start to talk. It’s possible to make it clear that they don’t have to change their eating habits but that you value your health and appreciate their hard work.
Online communities can be a great alternative to an IRL support network. They promote health and body positivity, which many people can’t do. Flex and Flow, Health at Every Size, and the Intuitive Food Community are all great. These communities focus on health and not weight. This is a great thing because if you focus on health outcomes, it will be easy to reach your happy weight. Reddit has a great forum (/r/loseit), where you can find many real-life weight loss stories.
Exercise is a way to conquer all
Although exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle, it can be challenging to lose weight by itself.
If you are interested in the wellness industry, you will know the following: “Abs can be made in the kitchen, but not at the gym.” The adage applies even if your goals aren’t to have a shredded stomach. Poor diet is something you can’t avoid.
It’s important to include exercise in your weight loss plan. Although it has been proven effective, it can also cause weight gain. People underestimate the number of calories they can lose from exercise. It’s likely a lot lower than you realize.
A 154-pound man, for example, will burn less than 450 calories in an hour-long weight training session. If you pay no attention to your diet, it is easy to cancel this effort. Your current weight, intensity, age, and body composition influence how many calories you burn.
Focusing on exercise alone can result in a vicious cycle of eating extra calories to lose weight. You may feel like you have to exercise to gain calories. This approach can cause a conflict between food and exercise and slow weight loss.
There are exceptions to every rule. There are exceptions to all rules. For example, some people who have put years of work into building muscle mass can eat lots and not gain weight. However, even if you can eat what you like and still lose or maintain your weight, it doesn’t mean that it’s healthy.
A diet high in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins will be the best for sustainable weight loss and good health. When you reach your goal weight, you will experience weight loss and weight maintenance.
You are struggling with sleep, stress, and work
Weight loss can be impeded by chronic stress and sleep deprivation.
If you are chronically stressed, sleep-deprived, or overworked, losing weight will be helluva difficult. This may sound familiar:
- You get up each morning feeling motivated and ready for the day ahead. You’re ready to go for a post-work interval run. Your healthy, prepared dinner is already in the fridge.
- You start to feel tired after a long day. You reach for your afternoon coffee.
- You’re too tired by the end of work to run. You decide to skip it.
- You are tired, maybe feeling a bit stressed or moody, so you decide to skip the healthy meal and go for a drive-thru instead.
It’s okay if this happens sometimes (everyone deserves a lazy night now and again), but it will make weight loss seem impossible if it is all the time.
Nutrition and exercise are not the only components to help you lose weight. Although exercise and nutrition are essential, they can lead to a neglect of other important factors such as sleep and stress management.
Supplements can be used instead of a healthy diet
Supplements won’t work if you don’t.
It pains me to break the news, but the fat burner in your medicine cupboard will not work. Although certain supplements can help you lose weight, it is crucial to understand how to make them work.
A daily protein shake can make you feel fuller all day. This may reduce cravings. A higher protein intake can help build muscle and aid in body recomposition.
Although some weight loss supplements have evidence, not all supplements can be backed by solid science.