How many times have you tried a diet only to fail? Millions of people vow to lose weight every year, and many fail. There are various reasons for that, but the biggest one is that their diet was just not right for them. Therefore, you can not lose weight the same way that someone else can. As important as diet is to your overall health, so is exercise. Most people believe that to lose weight; they have to restrict their food intake and engage in hours of daily exercise. However, while maintaining a healthy diet is important, overdoing things with exercise can have negative effects on your body.
Losing weight and keeping it off can be hard enough, but when you are trying to lose weight, finding healthy ways to achieve it is even harder. Many people overeat without even realizing it, which may explain why 74% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. Of course, people can’t help themselves—we all make mistakes—but being aware of them can help you avoid them. If you struggle to lose weight and keep it off, you may have tried every diet and weight loss program in the book. But did you know that there could be common habits that could be sabotaging your efforts?
Mindless Eating
Food is fuel. Not eating enough can leave you feeling sluggish, weak, and depleted of energy. So, it’s no surprise that many people turn to food when feeling stressed or depressed. But did you know that if you find yourself reaching for unhealthy foods, something bigger could be going on—and it has nothing to do with your diet?
In the world of dieting, some things seem universal, like everyone eating more when they’re hungry or that everyone needs to eat every two to three hours. You’re not alone if you think these habits could sabotage your diet. This is one of the reasons that some people find it hard to lose weight.
Nighttime Noshing
One of the most difficult challenges for anyone trying to lose weight is resisting eating late at night. For some people, the nighttime snack habit can be so ingrained that they cannot resist the urge of eating, even when they’ve had enough dinner. The truth is that late-night snacking can lead to weight gain.
We all have times when our willpower deserts us. Rather than resisting temptation and sticking with the diet, we find ourselves mindlessly grazing on snacks after dinner. The caveat to night snacking, however, is that keep in mind that eating late at night can do more than make you less fit: it can also mess with your metabolism, which can have serious long-term consequences.
Endless Snacking
Most people know to snack throughout the day, but did you know that you could be doing it in the wrong way? You shouldn’t be snacking throughout the day, but snacking in moderation between meals is fine. If you snack all day, you may make a major mistake.
Eating every few hours will keep your blood sugar level at an even keel, making it less difficult to stick to a diet in the long run. However, many people don’t realize that constant snacking can lead to weight gain. According to a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, eating between meals is linked with lower body mass index (BMI) and higher levels of muscle mass and lean body mass. However, eating more frequently also leads to eating more calories overall.
Skipping Breakfast
A cup of coffee in the morning. A bowl of cereal or a piece of toast. A smoothie. A glass of juice and a portion of fruit. Whatever you choose, breakfast is the most important meal of the day: breakfast sets you up for a successful day. But breakfast, although (arguably) the most important meal of the day, is also often skipped.
Skipping breakfast is a recipe for disaster when it comes to dieting. Not only is it the fastest way to ruin a diet, but it sets you up for failure in other ways. Most people don’t realize it, but breakfast is the day’s most important meal. It refuels your body, jumpstarts your metabolism, and ensures you’ll have enough energy to last throughout the day. If you’re trying to eat healthier, it’s vital to start your day with a good meal. When you don’t eat breakfast, you are more likely to overeat or reach for unhealthy snacks later in the day.
Eating breakfast helps keep our blood sugar steady, which helps prevent us from feeling tired and grumpy. Our metabolisms slow down after a night of fasting, and when we eat breakfast, our metabolisms rev up, burning more calories.