Three Diet Detours to Avoid
Diets are like road trips—you have to make the journey to reach your destination. When making plans for a long drive, you’ll often study a map or scan your GPS to ensure a trouble-free trek. That said, even the best prepared traveler can take a few wrong turns. Weight loss journeys are no different, so we’re inserting some push pins in the diet map to help you avoid those detours.
- Don’t miss meals. It’s tempting to equate skipping a meal with losing a few pounds, but that’s not how it works. More often than not, people who don’t eat three meals a day make up the deficit with substitute foods that add even more calories. Another thing to consider is the vitamin and nutrient support your body loses when missing healthy meals. So don’t blow off breakfast, lunch or dinner, just make smart food and portion choices.
- Crash diets = crash and burn.Immediate gratification leads many down the path of crash dieting, but it’s a short cut that actually adds pounds in the long run. A sharp reduction in caloric intake will reduce weight in short order, but t also sends “slow down” signals to your metabolism. When this happens, calories burn more slowly and those lost pounds return–with a few more.
- Think before you snack. Most of us, whether dieting or not, suffer from a condition known as “eating amnesia.” Consider the chips and cheese that always seem to end up by the remote control, just in time for American Idol. Maybe it’s the candy bar or cappuccino consumed out of pure habit. Mindless eating usually involves small snacks that rack up big calories in no time at all. Pay attention to your behavior between meals or when relaxing. Learn to recognize the cravings, and respond with smaller portions or healthier options.
Now that we’ve covered some detours, let’s add a couple of travel tips. Water keeps you hydrated, which helps your metabolism burn more calories. Organic dietary supplements may help ensure proper nutrient levels when used correctly. Stress can trigger emotional eating: supplements containing natural plant extracts reduce stress by supporting the body’s cortisol levels.
The road to weight loss may seem like a long haul sometimes, but it’s always worth the trip. Keep a steady speed, steer clear of the roadblocks and enjoy the ride. Before you know it, those extra pounds will be in the rearview mirror—and you’ll be traveling much lighter!
Sources:
www.medicinenet.com/diet_mistakes_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-mistakes-6-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight?page=2
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