7 weight loss mistakes to be aware of

By Jessah Shaw, Adv Dip (Nut Med)

If you’re not fitting into your favourite clothes, your weight won’t budge, or you go through phases of losing and gaining weight, it’s very likely you are making one of these 7 weight loss mistakes:

1. Mindless snacking

Having little snacks throughout the day can really add up, especially if you’re choosing calorie-dense foods such as chips, chocolate or biscuits. So, if you are keeping track of your calorie intake you need to include snacks as well, this may encourage you to snack smarter on foods such as plain Greek yoghurt, nuts and seeds or fruit. Having an eating plan to follow makes it much easier to stick to a healthy diet when trying to get back on track. The Dr Cabot 15 Day Cleanse helps make weight loss easier by improving liver function, and comes with an easy to follow meal plan.

2. Drinking excess calories

It is so easy to overlook the calories you may be consuming in your beverages. High-calorie drinks such as store-bought fruit juice, soft drinks, energy drinks and alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided altogether. Better options include water, herbal teas and black coffee. If you are someone who regularly consumes soft drink you will notice a huge difference.

3. Lack of water intake

It is extremely common for people to not consume enough water. Often people get their hunger signals mixed with their thirst signals and eat when their body is actually trying to tell them to drink more water. This is such an easy improvement to make and water is essential for boosting metabolism, improving satiety and energy intake.

4. Relying on fad diets

Diets that are short-term and unrealistic such as liquid diets are not something that can be maintained long-term and often don’t provide sufficient nutrients. It is best to instead opt for a way of eating that is not only healthy, but can also be followed long-term. Life is all about balance, so it is best to focus on eating wholesome, nutritious food the majority of the time, while also allowing for some sweet treats to curb your sugar cravings.

5. Setting impractical goals

If you aim to lose 10 kg in a week, this isn’t really realistic and may cause you to feel unmotivated if this isn’t achieved. Instead, it is much more achievable to instead aim to lose 3 kg in a week. You should even aim for health goals that don’t necessarily revolve around weight, such as aiming to drink 1.5L of water a day, or get 30 minutes of exercise a day. These lifestyle changes will benefit your overall health, and will likely cause weight loss naturally.

6. Not having a plan

The importance of a meal plan should not be underestimated. To succeed at any goal, it is important to have a plan in motion. It is an excellent idea to get a meal plan that is tailored to suit your own personal needs, dietary preferences and/or food sensitivities. The best way to go about this is to see a professional in this area, such as a dietitian or nutritionist. Our nutritionist, Louise Belle is excellent at organising meal plans to suit every individual. To make an appointment call our clinic on 02 4655 4666.

7. Underestimating our liver

It’s so easy to forget that your liver is your primary fat-burning organ. For many people, the liver is most known for breaking down alcohol, but the liver works hard 24 hours 7 days a week to keep you alive and to regulate your metabolism. If you have a sluggish, clogged up or fatty liver that is not functionally optimally, it slows down your whole body’s metabolism and makes weight loss near impossible. It is extremely beneficial to take a liver formula such as the Ultimate Superfood powder which supports natural liver cleansing and enhances healthy liver function. You can add it to smoothies, raw juices or use it in recipes – download our free e-book with recipes.

There you have it, 7 easy ways to increase your chances of successful long-term weight loss. For more information, see Dr Cabot’s book ‘I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why’.

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