4 Food-Related Obstacles to Lasting Weight Loss

-

 Weight loss – or, more accurately, fat loss -- is a goal for most of us. The simple formula is to eat less and exercise more at the fitness center, right? But it isn’t always that simple, especially if there are bad eating habits and faulty nutritional mindsets getting in between you and your fitness goals. Consider these food-related obstacles to lasting weight loss. Are you letting any of them get in your way?

1.    Hidden calories

Maybe you’ve been more conscious about what you eat, but are you accounting for every source of calories? Carbonated beverages, gourmet espressos, health smoothies, and even sports drinks are a common source of un-counted calories that could be hindering your weight loss.

Another calorie-adding category we tend to overlook is sauces and dressings, especially if they’re added while we prepare our food. Unfortunately, they also tend to be high in fat, sugars, and artificial ingredients. Watch for these and other hidden calorie sources that could be sabotaging your best-laid plans.

2.    Eating a Carb-heavy breakfast

For many people, a bagel and a cup of coffee are the go-to breakfast standard. Regardless of the calories you’re consuming (maybe the bagel is a “healthy” whole-wheat bagel without cream cheese), eating a carbohydrates-heavy meal can have a negative effect on your body and your eating habits the rest of the day. Refined carbs, like those found in ready-made bread products, spike and then crash blood sugar levels rather than providing a steady burn. Chances are, this kind of breakfast won’t last you until lunch, and will leave you feeling tired, sluggish, and hungry.

Balance healthy carbs (with preference for vegetable and fruit sources) with protein for longer-lasting energy that will keep you from grabbing that 10 a.m. doughnut and help you reach your weight loss goals.

3.    Fad diets

Impatience with a healthy rate of weight loss can lead some people to jump on the fad diet bandwagon to speed up their results. This is never a good strategy, because fad diets aren’t easy to maintain over the long run. You may have success losing weight while you’re on one of these diets, but as soon as you return to more normal eating habits, the weight will come back.

If you’re having trouble identifying fad diets, be wary of anything that cuts out entire food categories, is extremely portion controlled, or otherwise seems unbalanced. A good diet will be manageable and flexible, long-term. However, the best strategy is to focus on eating for health first and weight loss second.

4.    Underestimating how many calories you’re eating

While excessive calorie restriction isn’t healthy, refusing to be aware of how many calories you’re consuming can also stall your weight loss goals. If you prefer not to count calories, at least be familiar with calorie counts for the everyday foods and portion sizes you consume (even low-calorie foods add up if you’re eating too much of them!). Counting your calories even one time can be eye-opening.

Many fitness professionals recommend keeping track of your calorie intake (and calorie out-put through exercise) using a fitness tracker or app. This takes out the guesswork and makes it easier to hold yourself accountable, even on the go.

Don’t let these four food-related weight loss obstacles keep you from reaching your weight loss and fitness goals. Be aware of what you eat, but strive for balance and nutrition above all else. As you change your habits, you’ll also change your perspectives on food, health, and fitness for the better.

Location: Newark, NY 14513, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Surprising Foods and Beverages That Are Harming Your Health

-
Image
If you’re working towards a weight loss goal by counting your calories, meal prepping, and working out regularly at the fitness center, you probably spend a lot of time analyzing ingredient labels. But some things we eat and drink tend to pass by this radar, probably because we think of them as health foods, or, at the very least, not as harmful as foods that are higher in calories from fat or sugar. For this reason, you might be surprised at this list of 5 foods and beverages that could be harming your health. 1.      Diet Soda If you’re trying to kick the soda habit, you might think a diet version is a good alternative. It packs way fewer calories and some people even prefer the taste. The problem is that, to get great flavor without sugars and syrups, manufacturers add artificial ingredients and chemicals like aspartame and BVO, which is found in flame retardants. That’s not to say all diet sodas are horrible for you — food producers are responding to consume...
Read more

How Prioritizing Exercise Can Help You Achieve Your Life Goals

-
Image
You know that prioritizing time at the fitness center has a positive impact on your health, strength, and weight loss goals. After all, it’s what helps motivate you to get up for that early-morning workout or head to the gym on your lunch hour. But did you realize that prioritizing your fitness has benefits for other areas of your life, as well? Both formal studies and real-life examples provide proof that consistent exercise can impact your work performance, your personal goals -- and even help you with your bucket list. How Exercise Improves Your Work Performance In the last several years, many studies have revealed that regular exercise (at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week, and especially on work days) improves employees’ workplace performance. One study showed that active workers experienced as much as 15 percent greater productivity. That’s because physical activity comes to the benefits of heightened energy levels (without the need for as much coffee), alertness , and...
Read more

Sticking to Your Fitness Goals This Winter

-
Image
Winter is coming, which means it is time to amp up your workout routine. Many of us respond to the cooler weather by curling up on the couch with a bag of potato chips, delaying our workout for another day. However, now is not the time to give up on your fitness goals. In fact, there are many reasons why winter is time to double-down on your workouts and push yourself even harder. One of them is the fact that you can take advantage of colder weather. This might surprise you; after all, who WANTS to workout in cold weather? While headed into the chilly air for a run might not sound great, there are many ways you can benefit from lacing up your running shoes and braving the cold. Benefits of Working Out in Cold Weather Invigorate yourself There are actually many runners who look forward to the weather cooling down. This is because humidity and heat tire you out much faster, whereas the cool air invigorates you. The energy you get from working out in cold weather may be enough to take you...
Read more