5 Biggest Weight Loss Mistakes

Hey guys. Gonna do a quick post to help on some misconceptions out there dealing with fat loss. Hope you enjoy...

Number 1 Cutting Calories. Depriving yourself of food is going to put your body into survival mode. This is going to slow your metabolism because your body thinks that there isn't enough food and it will slow its rate of energy expenditure. Starving yourself will also make you feel lethargic and irritable. Losing weight by cutting calories will also lead to losing muscle tissue. Lean muscle is needed to burn fat. When trying to lose weight, muscle is your best friend. Under eating can also lead to nutrient deficiency. Vitamins and minerals found in whole foods lead to fat burning. If you are depriving yourself of these nutrients, your brain will signal you to overeat in order to get those nutrients.

Number 2 Low Intensity Cardio for Longer Duration. Long duration cardio will build up the stress hormone Cortisol in the body. High levels of cortisol in the body will prevent the body from burning fat. Instead do Interval training. This is where you do a higher intensity workout for a shorter duration of time with a rest period to allow your body to displace the cortisol levels. You can google HIIT to learn more about High Intensity Interval Training. Lifting weights and doing super-sets is another option. An example of a super set is doing one pull exercise first, followed by a push exercise next, and then resting for around 1 minute.

Number 3 Expecting too much too fast. Don't worry about numbers on a scale. Instead, take a picture of yourself everyday to see how you are progressing. Muscle is more dense than fat (hence, you may hear people say "muscle weighs more than fat"). If you take care of yourself via exercise, diet, and sleep over many months, you will notice your body getting tighter and leaner, but the numbers on the scale may not reflect that. Ditch the scale and let the pictures and your clothing be your guide.

Number 4 Not Rebalancing Your Hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that send signals to your body. If your hormones are out order, the communication in your body is going to be affected. This includes the message to burn fat in the body. What's the best way to rebalance your hormones...Sleep! (Check out my previous post about Sleep). Your body does not get in shape while working out, this occurs during sleep. Intense exercise is Catabolic on the body (breaks it down). Sleep is Anabolic (growth, development and repair). Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

Number 5 Eating Diet Foods "Low in Fat". Eat quality whole foods and healthy fats. Lots of diet meals replace fat with sugar and carbs to add flavor. They are also loaded with preservatives and artificial flavors. If you eat healthy fats and protein, your body will be "satiated." This means that you will feel "full" for longer periods of time. Meals high in carbs that are low in protein and fat will only keep you "satiated" for a short period of time. You will find yourself hungry again one hour later.

In order to lose weight and be in the best shape of your life, your need to shift your paradigm. This isn't a fad, this is a lifestyle change. A mindset shift will cause you to succeed long-term. Follow the steps mentioned earlier...High Intensity exercises a few days a week, a good night's sleep, and eat whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals that have quality fat and protein to keep you satiated. If you enjoyed this post please give an upvote and feel free to resteem.

Take care and stay safe out there,
Pete