Dieting News? Dieting Mistakes to Avoid

For Dieters Only! Avoiding Common Weight Loss Mistakes

Everywhere you look people are trying to lose weight, and if you are determined to lose weight and live a healthier life, then you should be aware of some of the weight loss pitfalls people tend to make and avoid them. As you read the following 5 tips you may be somewhat surprised to find that you have made some of the same mistakes that others have made on their weight loss journey. The advice in this article has help thousands of people to be more successful in losing weight and it will help you too.

1. Low Carbohydrates: This sort of fad diet centers on either the complete purging or the short-term suspension of virtually all carbohydrates. This is a shock to your system and does not teach you that not all carbohydrates are unhealthy. Keep in mind that you will have to pay attention to the pros and con's as you remember that there are viable alternatives to complete the removal of your favorite carbohydrates. Other fad diets to be aware of: High-fat, low-fat, low-carbohydrate, high-protein, liquid diets and fasting diets. All fads diets work for some people but not for everyone. It is important to find the right one for you.

2. Mental Deprivation: Many people look at a diet as their last opportunity to burn fat and lose weight, and they completely exempt all their favorite foods from their diet. You should not have your mental focus totally on what foods you are giving up; instead, look at what you will gain. Having a healthier, happier life is the goal here! Just because you do not allow yourself the foods that you really enjoy having while you are on your way to your goal weight, does not mean you will never get to get them again. As you are serious about weight loss, focus you efforts to cut out sugar products and junk food, but have a sugar-free dessert treat once in a while. You can find new favorite sugar free desserts (pudding, ice cream) that you can purchase to help meet that sweet tooth need. The goal here is that you will find certain aspects of your selected diet that you can permanently add to your new lifestyle.

Healthy Lifestyle Tip: Keep a food diary long enough to monitor your food intake and identify what circumstances tempt you to overeat or eat unhealthily.

3. Pre Packaged Foods: The majority of weight loss plans will either require or persuade you to get certain branded foods. Be aware of these maneuvers to make money by the the manufacturers to push all of their products even though some of them may only have an insignificant amount of nutritional value. Pay close attention to the listed ingredients and the amount of calories. Make sure you are consuming the right types of calories that will help you live a healthier lifestyle. Often in calorie-restricted diets, there is an initial rapid weight loss during the first 1 to 2 weeks, but this can usually be attributed to loss of fluids. All diet programs should stress the importance of drinking enough water.

4. Exercise Free Diet: Moderate exercise (and eating right) causes your body to burn fat for fuel. Exercise will help control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. It will enable you to burn fat for energy and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise can become a lifelong habit if you pick an activity that you enjoy.

Health Tip: Recent research has shown that lack of exercise can shorten a person's life expectancy more than regular cigarette smoking does.

5. Calorie Estimations: There are numerous calorie charts showing the total amount of calories burned during numerous physical activities on the internet. However, they are based on the calorie expenditure of a medium sized person. If you are not of medium sized and weight then these tables should be used as a general referral point only, because they overestimate the calorie expenditure of smaller people and underestimate the calorie expenditure for people bigger than average person. This is a common mistake and by talking with a doctor you can avoid possible miscalculations and learn what the correct caloric intake you need for your particular situation. Calorie counting is an easy and effective form of dieting, and it will help you learn the nutritional value of the foods you eat and how much your body really needs.

Whether you create your own weight loss program or use a commercial one, make sure it is safe and healthy. A nourishing and safe diet program will allow you to have at least 1,200 calories a day and include 30 min. to one hour of exercise daily. Whatever your weight goals are, you need to stay on the right path to nutrition and wellness. A safe and nourishing diet should include all of the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, fiber, calcium and protein.

NOTE: Consult with your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.
Rachell enjoys creating articles on a variety of topics and hopes that readers will be informed by her distinct perspective.

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