6 Things Weight-Loss Experts Want You to Know BEFORE You Start Trying to Drop Pounds

Learning the hard way sucks—especially when that lesson is about weight loss. "People have so many misconceptions and get so many things wrong when it comes to weight loss," says dietician Rachel Beller, M.S., R.D., author of Eat to Lose, Eat to Win. Luckily, that's easily corrected. Here's what you need to understand before you start your weight-loss journey.

Your Lifestyle Has to Support Any Changes You Make
"People get so enthusiastic about losing weight, but if their plan is going to work long-term, they need to have a real understanding of their lifestyle and what it can accommodate," says Beller. For instance, if your eating plan requires a lot of cooking, can you see yourself keeping with it six months from now? A meal-delivery system would save you time, but can you really afford it?

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You Don't Have to Be Perfect
Give yourself credit for making positive changes, no matter how small they are, or how far you are from so-called "perfect," says Beller. The point isn't perfection, it's improvement. So ask yourself, "What can I do today that’s better than yesterday?"

You Can't Stop Once You Lose the Weight
"There's no such thing as maintenance," says dietician Lauren Slayton, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Thin. "What I mean is there's no finish line when losing weight, no graduation day, etc. Sure, the plan may change slightly when you are trying to keep your weight stable versus drop pounds, but whatever you did to lose, you need to keep doing to some degree." Otherwise, if you return to your old habits, you'll just see the weight come back.

MORE: 4 Habits That'll Make You Gain Back Any Weight You Lose

Comparing Yourself to Others is Dangerous
It's easy to fall into the comparison trap and say, "Well, I'm not eating as poorly as everyone else at the table" or "Why is she losing weight faster than me?" Instead, Beller recommends gauging your progress with one simple question: "How am I following my agenda?" In the end, this will be much more productive than constantly seeing how you stack up against others.

Your Weight-Loss Will Taper—And That's OK
If you're making big changes, you may start off your weight-loss plan dropping pounds fast, like three to four pounds each week, says Beller. But after your body settles into it and you don't have any more water weight to lose (so long, salt!), you are going to lose less weight per week. That's good. It's sustainable, says Beller, who recommends losing one to three pounds a week over the course of your weight-loss plan.

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Just Because a Food is Healthy Doesn't Mean You Can Eat All You Want
Weight-loss newbies frequently suffer from what Beller calls "but it's healthy" syndrome, thinking that they can eat unlimited amounts of certain foods just because they're nutritious. While it's great to incorporate calorie- and fat-rich superfoods such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado into your diet, remember that a calorie is still a calorie—so you'll need to watch your portions.

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