6 Basic Mistakes That Jeopardise Weight Loss

With the past long holiday and plenty eating, most of us are looking forward to getting our bodies trim again. Some of us have given up on fats and carbs, but still feel unsatisfied and get to over eat later.

Some have also taken a lot of nuts and seeds when just a handful is recommended thereby causing the calories to rise. Others have even set unrealistic goals, which they quit within just a week!

In this journey of slimming down, or getting our bodies trimmed as you may like to say, there are several mistakes made. Below are 6 basic mistakes you must avoid:

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1. EATING TOO MANY NUTS AND SEEDS:
Remember that most healthy, highly nutritious foods are high in calories so watch your portion sizes of foods such as nuts, seeds, oils, dried fruit and avocados.

Although these foods offer a good source of nutrients, they also add calories and are of no additional benefit to you.

2. SKIPPING CARBS TOTALLY
Add your carbohydrates to dishes rather than treating them as an addition to help reduce your calorie intake.

Reducing your carbohydrate intake can help with weight loss but if cutting them out completely is not how you prefer to eat, try cutting down by adding a handful of cooked, brown rice, sweet potato, soups, salads and stews, serving as one-pot dishes.

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3. EATING TOO MANY SNACKS
Many dietary rules over a number of meals and snacks throughout the day.
Snacking is great to avoid hunger pangs but if you’re not hungry then leave them out as it’s just another opportunity to overeat. If you can, then try and opt for nutritious snacks over shop-bought.

If you need to include snacks then keep something healthy to hand.
Healthy snack ideas include:

Boiled eggs, Tomato, stock or miso-based soups, Small handful of nuts, seeds or dried fruits, Low fat natural yoghurt topped with berries, Lean sliced poultry such as turkey, Canned tuna with a handful of salad.

4. WEIGHING YOURSELF TOO MUCH
Weigh yourself weekly or set yourself a goal such as getting back into a favourite pair of jeans or dress.

Try not to get disheartened if it takes a little longer than you hoped and don’t beat yourself up over the odd setback, just pick up where you left off the following day.

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5. AVOIDING FATS
Fat doesn’t necessarily make you fat and although higher in calories than protein or carbohydrates, eating too much of any food will promote weight gain.

Choose small servings of healthy fats such as oily fish, nuts, seeds, avocados and oils such as extra virgin olive and coconut.
Instead of avoiding carbohydrates altogether, add them into main meals instead of as a supplement

6. BEING UNREALISTIC
Some people prefer to embark on a diet that has a structure and rules to follow. If this is your thing then pick one you can stick to and remember to think about how you’re going to keep the weight off once the diet ends.
There are lots of opinions about dieting such as low carbohydrate, low fat or simply reducing your portion sizes.

The bottom line is you need to reduce your overall calorie intake and partner this with an increase in activity like exercising.

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