Looking to meet your 2021 goals? Want to jump start that weight loss? Here are some diet pitfalls I often see and how to avoid them.
Diet Pitfall #1: Skipping Meals
Skipping meals only leads to being more hungry later in the day which leads to overeating and loss of control in the evenings. Start your day with breakfast, then try and eat something every 3-5 hours to maintain steady blood sugars. Skipping meals or fasting does NOT equate to long term weight loss.
Diet Pitfall #2: Eating diet, sugar free or fat free foods all day
Real food will fill you up and satisfy you. Eating 4 sugar free Jellos will not. Eat real, wholesome foods. Fruits, veggies, nuts, eggs, whole grains, protein, etc. You will feel better, look better, have more energy and less cravings.
Diet Pitfall #3: Not exercising
You can lose weight by diet alone but it is very rare when someone can maintain long term weight loss without some exercise involved. Get moving!!! 30 minutes a day for long term results. You will have more energy, fit into your clothes better, and lose more inches with exercise AND diet vs. diet alone.
Diet Pitfall #4: Not drinking enough water/drinking diet pop or coffee all day.
Water is the BEST way to hydrate yourself. Add a slice of lemon, cucumber or sliced berries to flavor your water naturally. Increasing the water will hydrate you better, give you longer lasting energy levels AND help you burn more calories when you work out.
Diet Pitfall #5: Jumping on the Fad Diet Bandwagon
If you want to make lifelong changes to your health and body, you need to start eating in a way that is realistic and able to be incorporated in your day to day routine.
Instead of starting the next fad diet, take a step back. What changes can you make that would get you that one step closer to losing 5 pounds?
Can you bring your lunch to work daily and 1-2 healthy snacks? Can you start walking on lunch breaks? Can you drink water instead of pop? can you start eating breakfast at home? Cutting portions at dinner?
~Kelly Devine Rickert, Registered Dietitian