How to Avoid Three Common Mistakes People Make With Their Weight-Loss Plans
Losing weight is not easy, and when you are not a movie star or celebrity who can spend six hours in the gym everyday, you need a completely different approach. Quite often people make the simplest mistakes with their "losing weight" plans and those mistakes can completely unravel their efforts. Here are three of those mistakes and how you can avoid them when you decide to lose weight.
Less Input Does Not Mean Smaller, More Calorie-Dense Foods
Even if you consume smaller portions of food, you may still be consuming too many calories. Although it is important to follow the old adage, "less input, more output," you cannot hope to reach your weight-loss goals if you consume a one-inch square pastry that has more calories than an entire well-balanced meal. Less input always means less calories and less food. You have to consume smaller portions of low- or no-calorie foods in order to fulfill the first part of any good weight loss plan.
More Output Does Not Mean Laxatives, Fiber Supplements and Excessive Exercise
Unless you absolutely need laxatives or high fiber supplements, you should not be using these to create "more output." It is a common mistake made by those who have never had the old adage explained thoroughly to them. The same goes for exercise; unless your doctor instructs you to, or gives you permission to exercise for more than two hours a day, you are doing too much output. Even though exercise is the right kind of "output," too much of it is not healthy and can lead to injuries that can set your weight loss goals back by days, weeks, or even months.
Do Not Give up When You Hit a Plateau
Plateaus are your body's way of resisting your weight-loss efforts. The body goes into self-preservation mode because it is not used to being denied several thousand extra calories a day. Whatever you do, do not give up on your plan. It may take some time, but the weight will start peeling off again when your body realizes that you are not going to give up and settle right at the weight where you have plateaued. If you have a lot of weight to lose (over fifty to one hundred pounds or more), you may encounter more than one plateau on your weight loss journey. Just keep plugging away at it until your body gives in and allows you to continue losing more weight.