When people go on a diet, they want to lose fat fast! What has accumulated over months and years has to be gone within 14 days or a month latest. Often they forget some basics on how to really get rid of the pounds and wonder afterwards why they did not achieve their weight loss goals. Although this is all common knowledge, watch out not to fall into these diet traps:
1. Don’t starve yourself!
Once you have decided to finally go on diet, some people overdue it thinking fast weight loss success would come with eating as less as then can, meaning less than 1,500 calories for men or less than 1,200 calories for woman. After a few days your body will be sent into starvation mode slowing down your metabolism and weight loss considerably. You can, however, be on a very low calorie diet for a few days and then eat almost at maintenance level for another few days and so on. For some people this is easier to do as so to speak “cheat days” are allowed.
2. Use fat in moderation, even healthy fat!
Nowadays we have all learned that there are healthy choices of fat, like olive oil, which seems to be a main contributing factor in popular and healthy Mediterranean food. This does not mean that you can use these fats generously only because they are healthy. They are still fats! And especially in combination with simple carbohydrates they go straight into your fat storage facilities that you are actually trying to reduce!
3. Sugar is hiding in low-fat foods!
Obviously you are cutting out sweets and cakes etc. from your diet when being on a weight loss scheme. This is a good start and sometimes hard enough to do. Just be aware of the many hidden sugars that contribute to your total sugar intake. They hide primarily in convenience food and in all packaged “low fat” foods. So if you think you are doing all the right things, read the labels! Anyway, diet wise the best foods are always those that don’t come with labels (fruit, vegetables).
4. Alcohol …
Having alcohol during your diet does not only contribute calorie wise and provides simple sugars that you are trying to avoid while being on diet, it also slows down your metabolism. Apart from following healthy eating habits, models for example, often drink little or no alcohol to keep their figures slim (although those who do might make it more often into the news!). In men alcohol also decreases testosterone levels inhibiting muscle growth and facilitating fat storage.
5. Drink your water!
You have heard it more than once, but do you really have your eight glasses of water? By the way, coffee, tea, fruit juices or even sodas don’t count. You need pure filtered water to flush out all the toxins that get released when breaking down fat cells. If the toxin levels get too high, your body will protect you from being poisoned by stopping to use your stored fat as energy source. You will reach a plateau soon and there your fat loss goes!
1. Don’t starve yourself!
Once you have decided to finally go on diet, some people overdue it thinking fast weight loss success would come with eating as less as then can, meaning less than 1,500 calories for men or less than 1,200 calories for woman. After a few days your body will be sent into starvation mode slowing down your metabolism and weight loss considerably. You can, however, be on a very low calorie diet for a few days and then eat almost at maintenance level for another few days and so on. For some people this is easier to do as so to speak “cheat days” are allowed.
2. Use fat in moderation, even healthy fat!
Nowadays we have all learned that there are healthy choices of fat, like olive oil, which seems to be a main contributing factor in popular and healthy Mediterranean food. This does not mean that you can use these fats generously only because they are healthy. They are still fats! And especially in combination with simple carbohydrates they go straight into your fat storage facilities that you are actually trying to reduce!
3. Sugar is hiding in low-fat foods!
Obviously you are cutting out sweets and cakes etc. from your diet when being on a weight loss scheme. This is a good start and sometimes hard enough to do. Just be aware of the many hidden sugars that contribute to your total sugar intake. They hide primarily in convenience food and in all packaged “low fat” foods. So if you think you are doing all the right things, read the labels! Anyway, diet wise the best foods are always those that don’t come with labels (fruit, vegetables).
4. Alcohol …
Having alcohol during your diet does not only contribute calorie wise and provides simple sugars that you are trying to avoid while being on diet, it also slows down your metabolism. Apart from following healthy eating habits, models for example, often drink little or no alcohol to keep their figures slim (although those who do might make it more often into the news!). In men alcohol also decreases testosterone levels inhibiting muscle growth and facilitating fat storage.
5. Drink your water!
You have heard it more than once, but do you really have your eight glasses of water? By the way, coffee, tea, fruit juices or even sodas don’t count. You need pure filtered water to flush out all the toxins that get released when breaking down fat cells. If the toxin levels get too high, your body will protect you from being poisoned by stopping to use your stored fat as energy source. You will reach a plateau soon and there your fat loss goes!