1. Eating too little.
I’m sure by now you’ve heard about your body going into “starvation mode” and hoarding calories, thereby stalling your weight loss when you eat too few calories….so I’m not going to mention that *wink*. I’m going to just give you the common sense reason why eating too little is weight loss mistake number one.
YOU WILL HAVE NO ENERGY and GET CRAVINGS
Who wants that? Eating too little will leave you like a weak lil zombie with no will to work out, and you’ll be eyeballing the donuts like they’re manna from heaven. Don’t do it. Eat enough to keep your energy up!
There are plenty of calculators online that tell you a calorie range to stay within based on your height, weight and activity level. These are okay, but please use it as a guide and not the gospel. If the amount seems like too little (or too much) for you after a few days, adjust it guiltlessly.
2.Setting unrealistic goals.
I do not care what you saw on last night’s episode of The Biggest Loser. You’re not losing 16 pounds this week. That’s just that. You can however lose 1/2 lb to even 2lbs depending on how much you have to lose and the changes you make in your lifestyle. Setting unrealistic goals is the most self-sabotoging weight loss mistake because it messes your head up.
You may have 50 lbs to lose, but you will lose them one by one by one. So give yourself time. Factor in your learning curve, your laziness level, and the “normal” rate of weight loss and plan accordingly. No crash diets, no starvation plans, no over-training to try to get there. You’ll end up doing more harm than good.
I’ve had so many clients come to me with huge goals and a tiny time frame. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s not going to happen. We have to be realistic. I’m not saying this to crush your optimism or your spirit. I say this with love, to help you actually reach your goal (and surpass it even) in a lasting way.
3. Not getting enough sleep
You already know that sleep restores you. You know that while you’re dreaming about your honeymoon night with Idris (oh wait… is that just me?) your body is working hard to repair the (good) damage you did while working out, and realigning your hormones for a lower stress day. But also know that lack of sleep will sabotage your will power, diet, and mood. You will more likely reach for a comfort food versus a clean food when you’re low on sleep (read: and low on energy) so be sure to get adequate sleep!
The “standard” 8 hours is not always feasible for everyone, so try to get as much as you can. Set your day up in a way that allows for you to grab more sleep at night. Your waistline is counting on you!
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