5 Things to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight

Weight loss is something people are pursuing globally and will likely continue to aspire to in years to come.

Whether it’s health reasons, pressure to meet the ideals of society or other factors at play, weight loss isn’t going anywhere.

Weight loss, however, isn’t an easy path to take and requires dedication and consistency. It is important that when trying to lose weight, you choose to do so in the healthiest ways possible.

Many hope for quick results but it’s important to understand that quick results aren’t really possible, despite what many “fitness gurus” will claim on the Internet.

Losing weight is all about lifestyle change, and this means eating healthy, exercising and sticking with the plan, the results will follow.

The Five Things to Avoid on Your Weight Loss Journey

In order to lose weight and keep the weight at bay, there are certain things that you should try and steer clear from; below are five things that you should avoid on your weight loss journey.

#1. Looking for Overnight Success

Many times, when it comes to weight loss, people want to see instant results. In this digital age, people have become accustomed to seeing before and after pictures relating to weight loss but don’t know the amount of time and dedication that went into getting those results.

On that note, instead of expecting instant results, consider setting out a plan of how you’re going to lose the weight as well as how long it’s going to take you realistically. Tips for creating a weight loss plan include creating a workout plan by devising a schedule and including seven days of cardio activities.

You can also write down weight and strength gaining exercises, give yourself reasons to workout and include a healthy meal plan as well.

#2. Putting Too Much Pressure on Yourself

Sometimes, the obsession to lose weight can have a negative effect on your mental health. For this reason, if you have deep-rooted issues with your self-esteem or self-confidence, you should know that losing weight won’t necessarily fix it.

An obsession with weight loss can lead to things like anxiety, depression,and addiction if not nipped in the bud. In case you have found yourself struggling with these things already, consider seeking help by looking for an addiction recovery facility or getting a professional therapist you can talk to about your challenges.

#3. Dramatic Changes

Out of enthusiasm, when people are trying to lose weight, they sometimes make dramatic changes to their lifestyle and eating habits. While this may work for some,but it isn’t always the best option as it could make it harder to stick to.

Weight loss and healthy living are more about gradually changing your lifestyle as opposed to depriving yourself of the things you love and enjoy.

Also, gradual weight loss is often better than making rapid changes because if you regain the weight, you could end up gaining twice as much, and sometimes rapid weight loss diets cause you to suffer from nutrient deficiencies and dehydration.

#4. Starvation

While controlled fasting can be utilized to help cleanse and detoxify the body when done right, starvation is not fasting.

Starvation pretty much involves a long-term food restricted diet which causes the body to not get enough calories or nutrients which can in fact be counterproductive to your weight loss goals.

While severely restricting your caloric intake may help you lose weight quickly, utilizing an unhealthy method like this will usually come back to bite you in the long run.

People who use starvation for losing weight almost always regain all of their weight and even more when resuming normal eating habits. By restricting your calories so drastically you will be more likely to relapse and jump back into old habits rather quickly.

The best approach to fat loss will always be to simply eat healthier, exercise regularly, and take things one step at a time via a systematic approach. This will have you seeing long lasting and healthy results. Starvation diets will always set you up for failure, period.

#5. Drugs & Diet Pills

Diet pills and even illicit drugs have been used for years by individuals hoping to lose weight. People tend to jump on the legal diet pill bandwagon because they are almost always promised quick results by the companies who market these products.

And yet other people have even turned to illicit drugs such as cocaine, crack and even meth to aid in weight loss. Prescription drugs are also utilized by people looking for quick results. Ritalin and Adderall are popular with some.

While drugs may help you lose weight and give you more energy to hit the gym, the adverse effects can be detrimental to your health and in some cases even cause death.

Again, real long lasting weight loss results come from incorporating and health diet and exercise into your daily life. Health & fitness is a lifestyle, not a fleeting thing. Drugs and diet pills should be avoided.

The Bottom Line

When trying to lose weight, it is imperative that you avoid putting too much pressure on yourself and not setting realistic goals. Instead, you should focus on getting healthy and gradually dropping lifestyle habits that may cause unwanted weight gain. By doing so, you should find that you’re on the path to losing weight the healthy way.

About Mark