There is so much information available about losing weight, so why do people continue to make the same mistakes over and over? I'm not talking about the unexpected slice of birthday cake it would have been an insult to refuse; I'm talking about big mistakes that lead to diet failure and ultimate defeat.
Understanding the problem can help you develop a plan that will lead to permanent weight loss. Here are the three most common mistakes we make on our diets:
- The All Or Nothing Attitude
Dieters who have an all or nothing approach to dieting will pick out a diet that is and before they begin, they'll gut their kitchen looking for anything that doesn't fit the diet plan they've chosen and fill their trashcans. They have every intention of being 'the perfect dieter'. And so they will be, for a whole day, maybe even two or three days. In fact a very few very intense and driven individuals will actually make it week or even a couple of weeks. But then, invariably, something happens that keeps them from adhering to their diet plan. And from that momen on, the whole thing is ruined in their eyes and there is no hope. It's over. Then they binge shop. They go to the grocery store and buy all those things that threw out the week before, proceeding to gain back the weight they lost, as fast as possible.
If you see yourself in this description, you need to decide if you really want to lose weight, or do you just want to take off a few pounds so you can gain them back. The way to lose weight is to make a few little changes in your diet and to slowly lose the weight.
- The Attitude of Sacrifice
Another mistake would be to view your diet as a time of sacrifice. You won't allow yourself to eat any of the things you so enjoy until you reach your goal weight. A sort of penance you must suffer for having gained the weight in the first place. And this may work for you . . . and you may lose the weight successfully, but of course as soon as you reach your goal, you're gonna gain it right back when you allow yourself to go back to your old ways. It would be better to allow yourself to have a small quantity now and again rather than making it a forbidden food. Your diet should be more about learning a new healthier way to eat.
- Goal Failure
Setting goals you can reasonably achieve is extremely important to any diet. Your goals should however be realistic, specific and in writing. You may have a goal weight in mind, unless you only have a couple nuisance pounds to lose, your goal is probably far enough away to be helpful. A better goal would be to lose a pound and a half or two pounds a week for the next month and then one pound a week thereafter. Then track your progress and you'll see yourself slowly but steadily progressing toward your goal.
If any of these scenarios sound like you, don't worry. The point is, you can begin again - now. It doesn't matter if you just ate a row of Oreo cookies; starting right now you can start eating healthy. Learn from your mistakes and your successes and don't use your mistakes as an excuse to give up. Your overall goal should be to become healthy. The great shape will follow. If you enjoy food in moderation and eat healthy; you'll meet and exceed your goals.
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