The weight loss journey is one of the hardest quests you can undertake. If you are working incessantly, but just can't lower that number on the scale, then chances are you are committing at least a few of these deadly mistakes.
More from MamásLatinas: Lose weight in 2018 with these healthy trends
They're all easy to fix. I promise. For example, some of us think that lifting heavier weights bulk us up. Wrong. Actually, you'll burn fat faster.
The good thing is that these mistakes can be easily fixed. Read on to identify what might be sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
This post was originally published on May 13, 2014
Not eating a "real" breakfast is a bad idea.
That's right–butter on toast or a piece of fruit is not a real breakfast. With breakfast, just as the name suggests, you are breaking your fast from the seven to eight hours of not eating. Not consuming a well-balanced meal, especially one rich in protein will make you more prone to snacking before lunch, or overeat during lunch. It is your breakfast that sets the scene of how the rest of your day is going to be, both in terms of energy as well as making healthy diet decisions.
Avoiding weights can harm your weight loss efforts.
There is this common misconception that cardio makes you lose weight, and strength training gives you muscles. But the truth is that lifting weights actually makes you burn fat faster. With strength training what you get is something known as a high EPOC, which or Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption, which basically refers to how much longer your body continues to burn calories far after the workout ends.
Workng out with baby weights can prevent you from meeting your weght loss goals.
There are women who think that using bigger weights will make them look huge. Well, the good news is that doing faster reps with heavier weights will not make you bigger. Along with burning more fat, heavier weights will also give you a strong and toned look.
You only work out solo.
Studies have shown that people who work out in groups lose more weight than those who exercise alone. Working out with a group of people who have the same goal as you will keep you in check, as well as force you to push your boundaries, like running an extra two miles or doing five more pushups. Another reason is motivation. Losing weight can be challenging, so with a few people around you who are also working towards dropping pounds, you can motivate and support each other.
You are too stressed out about losing weight.
Constantly thinking about the number on your scale will not only cause premature hair loss, but it will also actually make you gain weight. Anxiety makes you more prone to emotional overeating. Not just that, but checking your weight too frequently will actually discourage you from continuing to work out and eat healthy. What you need to do is continue doing your best and shift your focus from what the number on your scale is to how you actually feel and look. Also, limit weighing yourself to once a week.
You switch rout egular soda with its diet version.
Studies show that people drinking diet sodas end up consuming the same amount of calories as regular soda drinkers. You already know how soda is very unhealthy for you, so why switch it with something just as bad? Stop underestimating your willpower and cut it out completely.
You work out on an empty stomach.
Research shows that eating a meal rich in protein before a 30 minute workout will actually make you burn more calories by increasing your total energy expenditure (TEE).
