If you’re trying to lose weight—but it’s not going as planned…
Then you may be committing some common weight loss mistakes. And these mistakes include:
1. Focusing Strictly On The Scale
When it comes to weight loss, the scale is not your friend. Although most people use it as an indicator for weight loss, it can be very unreliable. You should instead focus on inches lost, as this is a sign that your body fat is decreasing, and you’re adding lean muscle mass.
2. Eating Too Many (or Not Enough) Calories
The amount of calories you’re eating will play a large role in your ability to lose weight. You’re either grossly over-estimating the amount you’re eating, or you’re underestimating it. And this could negatively impact your weight loss. Eating more calories than you’re burning, could lead to overeating and weight gain. And not eating enough calories, could slow your metabolism, and put your body into “starvation mode.” When this happens, your body will burn muscle, therefore slowing your metabolism.
3. Not Exercising Enough
Even if you are exercising, you may not be getting enough activity to make a difference in your weight. Why? Although exercise can help you burn excess calories, not doing enough, could result in not enough calories burned, therefore slowing weight loss.
4. Not Eating Enough Protein
If you want to lose weight, and get in shape, you need to be sure you’re eating enough protein. Not only does protein lead to increased lean muscle development, it may also suppress your appetite, therefore preventing you from overeating. You also burn extra calories by digesting protein. If you’re struggling to lose weight, increasing your protein may help.,
5. Avoiding Strength Training
If you’re focusing solely on cardio as your only means of losing weight, then it’s not going to work. Although cardio is good for boosting calorie burn, strength training may boost weight and body fat loss. Strength training focuses on building your lean muscle mass, which is more metabolically active than fat mass. The combination of a strength training program, with a cardio program, will give you better weight loss results.
If you’re watching what you eat, and exercising, but you’re not losing weight, then you may be committing one—or more—of these common weight loss pitfall. But, if you’re able to correct these mistakes, then you may see your weight loss take off.
Your friend and trainer,
Paul F Sweatt
Train Smart. Train Hard. Train Safe. Train to Sweatt