Jul 18, 2013

Weight Loss Secrets - 5 Things That Will Sabotage Your Weight Loss

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By Barb Taylor


Losing weight can be challenging. Even those who start a diet program and stick with it sometimes do not obtain the results they had hoped for. At times we can do things that hinder our weight loss without even realizing it. Following are 5 ways you could be sabotaging yours.

Overestimating Calories Burned

The majority of people use online calorie expenditure tables to estimate the amount of calories burned during a workout.

Relying on these tables can be detrimental to your weight loss because they tend to significantly over estimate the number of calories burned during a workout.

To accurately figure the calories burned during a workout you should use a heart monitor.

Not Lifting Weights

Although aerobic workouts burn a lot of calories and are great for you, one weight loss secret that many people overlook is that strength training is needed as well. Strength training builds muscle and muscle speeds up your metabolism and burns more fat, thus promoting weight loss.

So if you find that your weight loss has slowed or stopped completely. Add in strength training, alternating it with your other workouts. This should help to break through the plateau.

Excessive Drinking

Alcohol slows down your body's ability to burn fat. Instead of burning off food your body will first burn off the alcohol that you have consumed.

In addition to slowing down fat burn, alcohol stimulates that part of the body that controls hunger and makes you feel hungry even when you arent.

In addition to slowing down your bodys ability to burn fat, alcohol is packed with calories and has absolutely no nutritional value.

Cutting Back On Meals

In theory cutting back on meals seems like a logical way to reduce calories. Unfortunately, dong this may actually cause you to gain weight.

Skipping meals can decrease your metabolism and cause your body to start storing food.

Also when you skip meals you tend to overeat when you finally do have a meal

Instead of skipping meals eat five to six small meals throughout the day. If your calorie intake goal for the day is 1600 calories plan to have five 320 calorie meals each day.

Expecting Fast Results

Many people looking to lose weight set unrealistic goals. They watch people on television who have lost 20 pounds in a month and set that standard for themselves.

Reality is healthy weight loss takes time. Your weight loss target should be no more than 2 pounds per week.

Those who lose weight at this rate, tend to be more successful at keeping it off longer.

Although these five weight loss secrets may seem simple, they can have a major impact on your weight loss success.






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