3 Common Weight Loss Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Obesity is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Not only will it increase your risk of cardiovascular disease but it’ll also put you at risk for diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers.
Fortunately, it’s preventable with proper diet and exercise. Even modest weight loss will decrease your risk of the abovementioned health problems.
Are you trying to lose weight? Want to know what some of the most common weight loss mistakes are?
If so, you’re on the right page. We’ll be going over everything that you need to know below.
Keep reading to learn more!
1. Too Much Or Too Little Exercise
Exercising can help you lose weight by burning off extra calories (remember, you must be in a calorie deficit to lose weight). Not only will it prevent your metabolism from slowing down, but it’ll also prevent you from losing muscle mass, which will make it easier for you to lose weight.
Too much exercise, however, can have the opposite effect. That is, it can impair the production of cortisol, an adrenal hormone and that can cause your body to stop burning fat. In other words, you won’t be able to lose any weight.
Given that, it’s best to follow the guidelines, which recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week.
2. Not Eating Enough Protein
Protein can help with weight loss in several ways. For one thing, it’s better at keeping you feeling full than fat or carbs; this can lead to a reduction in calorie intake.
Not only that, but it can also boost your metabolic rate. In fact, studies have shown that consuming 30% of your total calories from protein can boost your metabolism by up to 100 calories per day.
Plus, it can help you build and preserve muscle mass and that in itself will increase the number of calories that you burn throughout the day.
Some foods that are rich in protein include eggs, chicken breast, greek yogurt, milk, broccoli, lean beef, and Brussels sprouts.
3. Having Unrealistic Expectations
Make sure that your weight loss goals are realistic. Generally speaking, you can expect to lose between 1 to 2 pounds a week. At the end of the day, it depends on various factors such as your starting weight, diet, and exercise levels.
And don’t opt for weight loss surgery thinking it’s a fast and easy way to lose weight. While it’s a useful tool for those who are struggling, the procedure alone won’t help you achieve long-lasting results.
Certain lifestyle changes will be necessary if you wish to maintain the results.
Have You Made Any of These Weight Loss Mistakes?
And there you have it—three common weight loss mistakes. As you can see, a number of things can hinder your process, from your diet to your exercise levels.
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