Wanna lose weight? Many of us do and many of us also want to do it quickly so we approach it full of hope and enthusiasm. Aerobic exercises, gallons of water and a proper diet become a part of our daily routine. However, the problem appears when we put so much effort in it and see no results. Not a pound to move. Then frustration, returning back to bad habits and giving up in the end is also a frequent scenario. Sadly, we reject our endeavors without trying a different approach. One of things we should be more focused on is the centimetres we’ve lost rather than pounds because that is where the real truth about losing weight hides.
Besides that, there are at least five mistakes we do when trying to lose weight.
Mistake no.1 – gluten-free food
It has become very common to read about or hear people talk gluten is very harmful for our body so we decide to eliminate it from our diet not really understanding what we actually do to our body or why. Gluten-free foods don’t contain gluten, a protein generally found in wheat and some other grains. It is due to one property gluten is popular in particular and it is its glue-like consistency you’ve all to work when trying to make bread or pizza for instance. As we mix water with flour to form dough, it becomes more elastic precisely thanks to gluten. But it is far away from being unhealthy just because of what it is unless you have celiac disease or some form of gluten intolerance.
Mistake no. 2 – low-fat foods
Like gluten-free foods, low fat foods can also be tricky. It is the fat that makes food more tasteful so once you remove the fat, you also remove the flavor. So what happens is that low-fat foods are being “enriched” with sugar and/or other additives to get a satisfying taste. Therefore, light foods should be avoided. Apart from that, some vitally essential vitamins are soluble only in fat which is one reason more not to give up on full-fat yoghurt for example.
Mistake no. 3 – breakfast
When you choose cereals for breakfast, you most likely think it is the healthiest thing to eat in the morning but in fact most cereals are full of empty calories since they are loaded with refined sugar. Therefore, it is better to go for something that will keep you satiated for hours such as eggs and integral toast.
Mistake no. 4 – sweeteners
Thought it may be true that artificial sweeteners don’t have energy value (calories), yet it is also a well-known fact that they stimulate appetite so it is very likely you’ll crave food and still bring those calories into your body. It is better to choose water, teas or freshly squeezed juice with no added sugar instead.
Mistake no. 4 – snacks
Occasional snack is okay as long as it is healthy and – planned. But grabbing this and that without giving our brain an opportunity to register it as a meal (a snack or not!) results in eating more than we are actually aware of. To avoid that, plan your meals and snacks ahead so you won’t get into a situation where you just don’t know where that bag of chips has gone.