Losing weight is pretty simple on the surface. You eat right, and move enough to make sure you’re burning more calories than you’re taking in. However, as anyone who ever lost a lot of weight will tell you, there are a lot of ways you can go wrong. Anyone who aims to lose weight is going to make a few mistakes here and there, but being aware of the most common ones can help you keep on track.
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Eating Too Much Protein
Protein is certainly important when you’re trying to lose weight, especially if you want to build your muscles in the process. However, if you get too much of it, it will end up being stored as fat. Just as you have to understand the difference of good carbs vs bad carbs, you have to be have a decent knowledge of good protein vs bad protein. High-protein shakes and bars, especially, tend to be bursting with fats and sugars.
Falling Short on Veggies
Even the most health-conscious people you know manage to fall short of the recommended 2.5 cups of vegetables a day. The main issue here is that many people wait for dinner, and try to pile on as many veggies in a single dish as possible. The easiest way to get your recommended intake is finding a place for veggies in every single meal. From sliced tomatoes on your toast in the morning to spinach in your sandwich at lunch, there are countless tasty ways to get enough veggies in your diet.
Counting a Big Glass of Juice at Breakfast as the Healthy Bit
Yes, fruit juices are a good source of essential vitamins, just like the label tells you. However, it’s a big mistake to down a big glass in the morning and think that this means you’ve had a healthy breakfast. Most juice raises your blood sugar, causing your body to produce more insulin, making you hungry, and wanting to overeat later in the day. For a truly healthy breakfast, make sure you’re getting some protein and fiber in, for example whole-grain toast and eggs.
Overestimating your Weight-Loss Efficiency
When most people enter into a weight-loss program, they shed a massive amount of weight in the first few weeks, and naturally feel pretty great about it. This is usually from a sudden intake of carbs and water, and is an artificially high spurt of weight loss. Your progress, unfortunately, is going to peter out soon after, so try not to get too discouraged when this happens!
Forgetting About Your Sleep Pattern
Your sleep pattern has a massive effect on pretty much every aspect of your health, and although it’s more noticeable on a mental level, it can also have a major impact on your weight. Your hunger hormones are influenced directly from the amount of sleep you get each night. If you’re getting by on too little sleep, you’ll be prone to sudden urges to eat everything you can get your hands on! If you can’t get the recommended eight hours each night, aim for at least seven.
