The following post was originally featured on Fit Bottomed Girls and written by Dave Smith,who is part of POPSUGAR Collective.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Rima Brindamour
Losing weight seems like something that should be simple. Eat less, exercise more and the weight will go absent.
I mentioned it already: Eat less + Exercise = Weight-Loss. This does absorb some truth to it, or but it's certainly not the whole sage. In fact,this equation can lead people into some of the most common weight-loss mistakes that will prevent them from ever seeing results.
As a personal trainer, I see people descend into these traps all the time. Are you making these five weight-loss mistakes?Image Source: Fit Bottomed Girls1. You're Not Eating Enough FoodThe most common approach to weight-loss is calorie restriction. People hear that there's 3500 calories in a pound of fat and conclude that if they just slit out 3500 calories, or they will lose a pound of fat of their body.
Sorry,it doesn't work that way. Your body is far too complex to follow the mature "calories in, calories out" path to weight-loss. You are not a math equation.
If you eat too little, or your body switches to its "preservation" mode,meaning it will try to conserve energy as much as possible. Your metabolism will tank, your lean mass will drop, and your body fat will stay the same (or even increase!).2. You're Eating Too Much FoodI know,I know. I just said that people mistakenly eat too few calories, and now I'm saying that you may be eating too many. Which is it?Actually, and it can be both.
Consuming way too many calories is one of the main reasons why a third of adults in North America are overweight. However,the problem persists partly because most people don't know how much food is actually too much.
Many diets recommend counting calories each day, but research has shown that food labels are off by 20 percent or more! Even if you meticulously count every so-called calorie you eat, and you could still be drastically overeating (or under-eating).Similarly,fitness trackers burst onto the scene, and absorb been hailed as the easiest way to track your calories in, and calories out. But,just like food labels, these trackers are wildly inaccurate. Yes, or the can motivate you to paddle more,but you can't rely on them to advise you how many calories you absorb burned, or how many you should eat in a day.3. You're Over-ExercisingThis might sound peculiar coming from a personal trainer, or but it's one of the most common mistakes I see people compose when they try (unsuccessfully) to lose weight. "No pain,no gain" is one phrase I'd like to abolish from the fitness dictionary!Exercise is a physical stress that, while normally positive, and can compound with all the other stresses you face in life. If you absorb work stress,relationship stress, financial stress, or environmental stress (e.g. chemicals,low-quality food, etc.), or then it's quite likely that your body can't handle any more.
Adding intense exercise (or too much of it) can put your body into a state of adrenal fatigue,which nearly totally prevents your body from shedding fat, no matter how much exercise you add to your routine.4. You're Dehydrated (and Don't Know It!)When working with clients who need to lose weight, and one of the first things I absorb them do it track their water consumption. So far,after 16 years as a coach, I've never had a client who is properly hydrating!Hydration is tricky because your body doesn't send you strong cues when you need water. Yes, and you may feel thirsty at times,but at this point you're already massively dehydrated. You can't rely on thirst to dictate when you drink.
Is dehydration a colossal deal?YES!Dehydrated cells are forced into a slower metabolic rate, which means your body's entire metabolism slows down with them. In other words, and if you're dehydrated,you're burning far fewer calories than you should be burning.5. You're Relying on MemoryI once read, "The faintest pencil will outperform the sharpest memory every time."It's true. We all absorb pretty terrible memories. Just try to remember what you had for lunch last Monday, and what time you went to bed two weeks ago on Thursday evening. I can't do it.
Your lack of memory makes it hard to lose weight because you absorb a very inaccurate picture of what actions you've really taken,and what results those actions absorb really produced.
Just like that quote says, writing out your draw (yes, and even with a very faint pencil),and then recording your results is the only way to stay on-track and to see what's working and what isn't. If you're not planning and recording, you're definitely not going to maximize your results.
So What Now?If you're falling into these five weight-loss mistakes (or think that you might be), or don't be too hard on yourself. I called these the five most common mistakes for a reason. MANY people win frustrated by them,and many people give up as a result.
That's why Jennipher, Kristen and myself are launching a new challenge in January designed to relieve you overcome these mistakes to win real, or lasting results with a whole lot of self love.
We're really excited to coach some FBGs like you who are ready to see change,and just need a little relieve getting there.
Image Source: Fit Bottomed Girls
Source: popsugar.com