How many times have you tried to go on a diet and have not lost any weight? This happens to most people! There are many common mistakes, which are easy to change, so that this does not happen to you!
Mistake #1 Sneaking in unknown calories
The truth is that when most people are "on a diet", they are still overeating and don't really watch their calories. It is very easy to add on hundreds or thousands of calories each day, simply by not paying attention to your habits.
How many times have you finished the food from your kid's plates? How about grabbing one more handful of chips? How many times have you added those little "extras" such as more salad dressing or one extra tablespoon of butter to your meal?
I know that we have all "tasted" our meals while they are cooking. All of those extra calories add up quickly! Some may only be 70 or 80 calories, but some are more! My suggestion is to keep a food diary so that you are monitoring your intake. Make sure that you write everything down!
Yes, even that one bite of macaroni and cheese from your child's bowl! Somehow, seeing it in print helps make one more accountable. You will be amazed how you have been "sneaking" in extra calories! And, it will be easier to stop when you have to think about writing it down!
Mistake #2 Skipping meals
Many people think that if they consume fewer calories, especially by not eating breakfast, that they will lose weight quicker. This is very far from the truth. When breakfast is skipped, you are depriving your body of necessary nutrients to function properly. You have not eaten in 8- 10 hours during the night and your brain and body need healthy calories to get it moving. Your body is like a car, it can't get moving without fuel and oil, and your body can not get moving without breakfast.
If you skip breakfast, you are more likely to grab an unhealthy snack, loaded with sugar, mid-morning. People who skip breakfast also tend to eat more calories throughout the day, thus consuming more calories than they would have if they had simply eaten a healthy breakfast. Try eating a healthy breakfast and see how much better you feel in the morning! A yogurt, fresh fruit, cottage cheese or egg, and a glass of skim milk will only be around 250-300 calories and will leave you feeling full for a few hours!
Mistake #3 Too many liquid calories
You have most likely read the amount of calories on food labels, but have you ever paid attention to the amount of calories on drink labels? Most drinks are loaded with calories and a ton of sugar! Juices, smoothies, sodas, alcohol, sweetened teas and flavored coffees with cream and sugar are bursting with extra, un-needed calories. Try switching to diet soda, low-sugar fruit juices, water and skim milk.
Also, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages. Often times, we can add extra calories by eating along with drinking these high calorie drinks. Think before you drink.
Diet mistake #4 Portions are too big
How many times have you gone to a fast food chain and they ask if you want to order the super size? Too many! Our bodies do not need that much food! This is easy to change as long as you think before you fill up that plate. Let's start with the size of the plate. If you eat on a smaller sized plate, you will have less room for too much food and will, therefore, eat less. Try using a smaller plate-it really helps! Also, when filling up your plate, aim for "fist-sized" portions.
Your lean protein source should be the size of your fist, as should your carbohydrates. You can then fill the remainder of your plate with fruits and veggies. Add an 8 ounce glass of skim milk and there you go! Concentrate on eating your meal and enjoying the taste in every bite and you will find that you are eating slower, which also helps you eat less because you are giving your body time to feel "full". Some people also like to try and leave a spoonful behind,rather than cleaning their plates.
These five diet mistakes are easy to change! All that it takes is some extra time to think about what you are choosing to do. I know that you can do it!
Author Resource:-
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