Avoiding Weight Loss Blunders

If you are about to start a plan to lose pounds or inches, the following information can help you avoid some of the most common mistakes that undermine weight loss plans.

Pinning your hopes on a miracle diet. All of the "fad" diets going around may sound promising, but for them to work you have to actually keep up with them for the rest of your life.  At the end of the day, it's eating sensibly and exercise that will work for you in the long run.

Not counting calories. To lose weight, you have to consume fewer calories than you are use. Every calorie counts and keeping track of them will help you keep on track as well. For a quick and easy calorie calculator, visitwww.healthyweightforum.com.

Eating too little has been shown to slow your metabolism. Dr. Dean Ornish from WebMD.com said, "if you reduce your calories by 20-25 percent and your metabolism slows down by the same amount, then you stop losing weight even if you stay on the food-restricted diet. When your metabolism is lower, then you burn calories more slowly."

Drinking too little. Sometimes when we are hungry, our appetites are really signaling us for water. Check and see if you are thirsty instead of hungry when you get those stomach pangs by drinking one or two glasses of water. If the hunger goes away, then you are all set! The body's quench center does not care if you are giving it water or a sugary soda, but the calories make a difference to your weight loss goals. If you do not like the taste of water, try livening it up with 0 calorie True Lemon, True Lime or True Orange!

Expecting too much. When starting on the path to weight loss, make sure to set realistic goals. Don't start with goals such as aspiring to look like your skinny friend or fitting into that perfect summer outfit from five years ago after a month. Come up with a sensible goal, like five pounds in a month, that will make you feel good about yourself when you reach it. Then after that goal is reached, plan another!

Skipping exercise. "I'll exercise later." How many times have you said those three words to yourself? Instead of waiting until after work, errands, etc., exercise in the morning when you get up! Yes, some people do have the dedication to exercise later but if you are not one of them, work out a sensible time to go to sleep so you will wake up and exercise. Keep in mind that exercising in the morning will give you more energy throughout the day. Try starting with five or ten minutes and building from there.

When you reach your ideal weight, it's not over! Many people make the mistake of going back to old habits after they work so hard to reach their goal. Once you are at your target weight, make sure you stay there by maintaining the healthy living that you worked so hard to learn!