5 Things You Do Each Day That Are Preventing You From Losing Weight

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows one thing: it can be a frustrating process. It isn’t necessarily frustrating because it requires you to eat better and exercise more, it is frustrating because despite your best efforts, results can be elusive. This is enough to make you want to scream. But, what if we told you that you are likely engaging in daily habits that are sabotaging your efforts? You’d want to correct them, right?

Well, here are 5 things you do everyday that may be preventing you from losing weight:

1. You watch too much Netflix.

Sure, binge-watching your favourite show is both comforting and enjoyable but you should probably stop. Watching an episode or two a night of your favourite guilty pleasure is fine but throwing yourself on the sofa the second you get home from work and staying there until the wee hours of the morning is not helpful. Studies have found that eating in front of the television increases your calorie consumption. Besides, if you are staying up late, you are not likely getting the 7-9 hours of sleep a night that is essential to keep your metabolism functioning as it should. The less you sleep, the more ghrelin (the hunger hormone) your body produces. So, when you are tired, you will be hungrier.

2. You skip breakfast.

You may think you are saving calories but eating within two hours of waking is pretty important for weight loss. Don’t let the fact that you don’t feel hungry stop you from eating. Eating a protein packed breakfast will get your metabolism revving and keep you feeling full until lunch time.

 

3. You only do cardio.

Sure, on the surface, cardio burns more calories than lifting weights but there is a bigger picture to consider here. If you are only doing cardio, and the same cardio, day in and day out, your body will adapt and you will plateau. Your workout may have been a calorie buster in the beginning but it will become less so over time if you don’t mix things up. It is also important to remember that muscle burns more calories than fat so pumping a little iron may actually be the key to unlocking your weight loss!

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4. You aren’t honest about how much you are actually eating.

Yes, you ate really well today. But only if you don’t think about the late night sleeve of cookies you ate or that chocolate bar you had after lunch at work. In fact, research has found that the majority of Americans grossly underestimate the number of calories they are consuming. Maybe you don’t know how many calories are in your food or you are forgetting to include your snacking habits, whatever the reason, it is clear that not being honest with your intake can stand in your way. Try downloading a fitness app to your phone and recording everything you eat. You may not want to know how many calories you are actually eating but it will help you in the long run. In this case, ignorance is not bliss.

5. You’re drinking anything but water.

Drinking any beverage that isn’t water can be a big misstep in your weight loss efforts. Sodas and energy drinks are full of calories and offer very little in the way of nutrition. Juices contain very little fruit and a lot of extras. Diet sodas may be low in calories but are full of chemicals that can actually lead to weight gain! If water isn’t your thing, add some lemon or a sprig of mint. Herbal tea is also a good choice for staying hydrated.

Are you guilty of any of these daily weight loss traps?

Source: Elite Daily

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