So you’ve decided to lose those few extra pounds you’ve been carrying. Many people approach weight-loss in a way that sometimes disrespects the body.
Beware of these 5 mistakes:
- Setting unrealistic goals. You know you want to lose weight, but how much should you aim to lose? Pulling a random number out of the air usually isn’t the best strategy and striving to weigh what you did at age 16 will usually set you up for failure. A better option is to slowly work at goals that will get you closer to your ideal weight (based on your height and body frame).
- Not fueling the body. Too many times when we decide we want to lose weight, we banish certain foods completely. We often want to avoid things like fat and starch altogether. Be aware that these foods provide benefits to our bodies as well. Starch provides our brain and muscles energy. If exercise is part of your strategy (and it should be) you need to be sure to have enough fuel in your body’s tank.
- Not allowing yourself to cheat. Does this seem counter-intuitive? All too often when people deprive themselves of their pleasures for a period of time, they usually find themselves over-indulging once all restrictions are finally gone. Life isn’t meant to be painful – the key is balance and sensibility.
- Failing to keep score. As the old saying goes, ‘what gets measured, gets managed’. You need to keep track of the foods you’re eating. Keep your eyes open for any trends (Eg. sweet foods in mid-afternoons, fatty foods in the evenings). Awareness of habits is the first step in adjusting them.
- Failing to reward. Being motivated by a dangling carrot is much more fun than being coerced by a stick. Either way, you have to ‘want’ to take the next steps in your journey to fitness. Upon setting a goal, be sure to attach a compelling reward for when it is achieved.For example:
Goal = Jog 45 minutes, 10 times in the next 14 days.
Related Reward = Treat myself to an afternoon at the spa.
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