| 1. Unless your weight loss plan is proactive and | | | | of us forget what we eat during the day or ignore |
| personalized, your weight loss efforts are destined to | | | | anything we don't actually see in our food (secret |
| fail.Fix: Keep it real. Figure out what will and will not | | | | sauces, added fat, sugar and calories we sip instead |
| work for you personally. If you're too busy to cook on | | | | of chew).Fix: Pay attention to what you're eating. Too |
| weeknights, spend a few hours on the weekend to | | | | many nibbles and sips can quickly add up and those |
| shop and prepare meals you can enjoy throughout the | | | | "lost" calories will show up on your butts, abs, and |
| week. Get some healthy crockpot recipes so that a | | | | thighs.7. You cut out all meat just to shed unwanted |
| healthy dinner is cooking while you go about your | | | | weight. Deciding to go vegetarian has many great |
| day.2. Too many foods on your "bad food" list.Fix: Do | | | | health reasons, but weight loss isn't one of them. Why? |
| not cut entire categories of food from your diet. | | | | Because most people who eliminate meat aren't eating |
| According to Dayle Hayes, M.S., R.D., a nutrition | | | | that much of it to begin with. In fact, research shows |
| consultant, "Any time you eliminate whole food groups | | | | that many people who completely cut meat out of |
| (such as dairy, carbs, and high GI foods like carrots | | | | their diet actually gain weight because they replace |
| and beets), you wipe out important nutrients." So tackle | | | | meat with piles of pasta and rice (foods that more |
| the bigger issue of planning, shopping, and preparing | | | | than make up for meat calories without providing |
| meals that contain some of the healthy foods on your | | | | protein's staying power).Fix: For a smooth transition to |
| "bad food" list.3. You're gaining in the double digits. | | | | a meat-free lifestyle, consider taking a vegetarian |
| Gaining 10 or more pounds is going to require a bigger | | | | cooking class or consult with a nutritionist for a healthy |
| commitment to weight loss than if you only gain 5 | | | | eating plan that satisfies you and coves all nutritional |
| pounds.Fix: Nip weight gain in the bud. Keep a food | | | | bases.8. You're stuck on the same meals. When it |
| diary to track calories and emotional eating. Get | | | | comes to your diet, you eat the same "safe foods" |
| monthly body fat checks. By reviewing your progress | | | | (yogurt, salad, grilled chicken) every single day of the |
| regularly and making small, doable changes to your | | | | week. However, too little variety can leave you feeling |
| eating and exercise habits, the next time you step o n | | | | deprived. Eating the same thing every day can lead to |
| the scale, you will see results.4. You don't plan | | | | food cravings, binge eating, and weight gain.Fix: Try |
| ahead.Fix: Getting hungry is normal, so instead of | | | | different flavors of yogurt or cereal for breakfast, mix |
| denying the fact that you will get hungry, plan ahead | | | | and match a few of your high-fiber cereals with a |
| for the times when you know you're going to feel | | | | variety of fruits, mix chicken into a savory soup. |
| those hunger pangs; otherwise, you're likely to eat too | | | | Basically, add some variety to avoid burnout.9. |
| much of the wrong foods. Never go more than 4 to 5 | | | | Forgetting exercise. When it comes to weight loss, one |
| hours without eating. Also, bring health lunches and | | | | of the biggest mistakes that people make is not |
| snacks to work that you can eat at your desk.5. You | | | | realizing that some type of physical activity is key to |
| cut out all fat. A low-fat diet is a great way to lose | | | | losing those unwanted pounds.Fix: Try to get in some |
| pounds, but cutting out all fat is bound to fail you.Fix: | | | | type of physical activity at least 5 days per week. |
| Recent research shows that eating a little more | | | | Whether it be walking, aerobics, weight training, walking |
| healthy (most monosaturated fat) combined with a diet | | | | the dog, anything that requires some movement. Don't |
| rich in fiber and lean protein (like skim milk) can actually | | | | forget that everything you do will count towards your |
| help you lose weight because you will stay full longer. | | | | daily activity requirements, including cleaning, taking the |
| Enjoy controlled portions of fatty foods like olive oil, | | | | stairs instead of the elevator. Exercise is key not only |
| avocados, salmon, and nuts, and you might just find it | | | | to losing weight, but your overall sense of health and |
| easier than ever to lose those unwanted pounds.6. | | | | well-being. |
| You forget about calories. Research shows that many | | | | |