One of the greatest parts of my job is getting text messages and emails where people tell me they have lost 15 lbs in a month since starting MealFit, or how they have had to buy all new jeans because the old ones don’t fit anymore. These priceless messages make my day.
But that doesn’t mean everyone’s weight loss journey is a success. I get a lot of messages asking for help from people who just haven’t been able to find a plan that works for them. After talking to hundreds of such people, I’ve found 3 common mistakes people make that make it difficult to lose weight and become fit.
There’s no plan
We all have excuses: “I don’t have time after work to make a good meal; the local drive thru is more convenient.” A lot of us don’t feel like cooking at the end of the day, so we settle for convenience—which often results in eating unhealthy food.
But it’s part of my mission to help people avoid the drive thru and eat in a way that keeps them fit and healthy. To avoid shopping for unhealthy, convenient food because of a lack of time in preparing your own, you simply need to spend some time planning your diet. When we do not have a plan, we stumble into eating foods that are full of grains, sugar, and preservatives—all of which are making out society obese and lethargic.
When you go to work, you probably have a schedule that you stick to in order to remain productive. If it works in the office, why not do the same for the kitchen? Start with a plan that will tell you what to buy, what to eat and how to cook it. Make this process mindless so that you can spend your effort on others things like your business or family.
They think they can’t eat fat
Fat is a macronutrient. It should not be used to describe someone one’s appearance.
But since “fat” has become synonymous with a body type, it has been virtually impossible to convince people that fat is not bad for you.
When wanting to lose weight, our daily goal should be to reduce our intake of sugar. Reducing sugar intake keeps our blood sugar levels steady, thus keeping us from being hungry throughout the day. A low-sugar, high-fat diet will increase satiety and over time and reduce weight while decreasing body fat.
They stop eating
We’ve heard it over and over: consume less calories than you burn. This methodology has people to work out to the extreme and eat next to nothing. While this will increase your weight loss, it is not something that will keep the weight off and is not healthy. When you do not consume enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode, thus shutting down your metabolism and holding on to weight that could be lost due to proper diet and exercise. You will also experience an overall loss of energy and cognitive ability that comes with not consuming enough fuel.
In order to get lean in an effective and healthy manner, consuming the right food (and the right amount of food) is crucial. I wish I could give a single, no-nonsense amount that works for everyone, but because everyone’s body is different, it will vary from person to person.
Most people I have spoken to looking to lost weight seem to struggle with at least one of the above mistakes. If there was one thing I could leave your with as you proceed on your journey to lose weight, make sure you have a plan, and stick to it.
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