You want to lose weight, you've tried with all the willpower you can muster, and yet you continue to find yourself in that frustrating place with zero progress. Don't panic—there is hope. If you want to lose weight, simply find out which common weight loss mistakes might be preventing you from getting the results that you want, and course correct.
1. Stop Putting Weight Loss at the Bottom of Your Priority List
As a new mom I have been guilty of this big time. There is always something or someone else ahead of thinking about ourselves. But here's the thing, if mom is tired, run down, and angry she isn't able to help others very well either. If you really want to lose weight, it needs to be at the top your priority list. Bottom line. If you want to lose weight you have to make time for it. A simple way to do this is to begin to plan out the meals you will make for the week ahead. Whether it's penciling in time to get groceries, packing a lunch the night before, batch cooking, meal prepping, or making the decision 24 hours ahead of time to know exactly what you’ll eat, planning is key. In order to see change, you must make room to change and allow yourself the means to change.
2. Stop Underestimating Your Food Intake
"But do you really need to count all of your calories?" No, not forever, but the little things can add up. A bite or two of your kid's food just to make sure it tastes ok, the whip cream and added sugar in your venti caramel macchiato, that mayo on your sandwich, the oil in your salad dressing, the calories you consumed while preparing dinner. Tiny bites, licks, and tastes can add up throughout the day and your daily caloric intake may be higher than you are actually estimating. These are usually calories that you are eating completely unconsciously. Using a food tracker and being honest about portion sizes is very important if you want to move the needle on your weight. This is not a pitch for deprivation. Make sure you are adding in tons of fresh fruits and veggies throughout your day. They are nutrient dense, high volume, and keep you full without blowing your calorie budget.
3. Stop Only Exercising
Working out is a great compliment to losing weight, but if you think you can kill it in the gym and still eat whatever you’d like, you're in for disappointment. The cliche that states “abs are made in the kitchen” is cliche for a reason, it's true. Exercising is so beneficial to our body and mind, so definitely include it as part of your weigh loss program, but it is secondary to clean eating. Focusing on healthy foods in healthy portions, that allow you to feel satisfied but not stuffed is the way to go and can be much more important than how much you work out.
4. Stop Expecting Major Results from Minimal Effort
Losing weight isn’t easy, and can feel not great at times. If you are expecting to lose weight without making any changes in your life, you will be waiting for a long time, and severely disappointed. Losing weight can be uncomfortable if you have been used to years of overindulging. But discomfort is the currency of your goals becoming a reality. If you expect it to be easy, then you will most likely quit when unexpected challenges arise. Consistent changes are key. Falling down, getting back up, and failing forward.
5. Stop Setting Unrealistic Goals
When you first make the decision to make a change, you are highly motivated and excited. You may go full force and without realizing that you have set extremely unrealistic goals for weight loss. And oh the frustration when they don't happen as fast as you'd like them to, leading your enthusiasm to set into complacency, and lack of motivation leading to quitting all together. Instead, set small goals and be kind to yourself along the way. This paves the way to confidence and success on your weight loss journey, and will help you reach your ultimate goals.
Weight loss is hard, but don't let the difficulty of the process deter you. If you want to lose weight, you absolutely can...at times it will be uncomfortable, but you can do it. Celebrate small accomplishments and stay focused along the way. Go get em tiger!
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