Most Common Weight Loss Mistakes

Are You Making These Fat Loss Mistakes?

There are some common weight loss misconceptions that people believe that they could be holding you back from losing fat. There is a difference between "weight loss" and "fat loss". The goal should always be to lose fat! You want to always aim to lose fat and lower your body fat percentage. Here are the most common mistakes people are making when trying to lose fat:

1. Problem: You think cardio is the answer. ​

Cardio isn't the best workout for weight loss. The more you do it, the better your body becomes at doing it and they less calories you burn for the same amount of work​. Spending hours going a steady pace on a treadmill is not nearly as effective as you might believe it to be.

Solution: Try interval training instead. You will burn more calories in the same amount of time. Interval training also has a stronger effect on the metabolism so you could burn more calories for a longer period of time even after your workout is complete

2. Problem: You're not getting enough protein

Not getting enough protein will hurt your fat loss. Your body actually burns more calories digesting protein than it does digesting carbs. Protein can also make you feel more full and feel full longer. If you are not getting enough protein and working out you could be losing muscle mass.

Solution: Make sure that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. So if you weight 140 pounds you should be eating 140grams of protein.

3. Problem: You're not getting stronger

You are working out but not increasing your body strength. If you are on a diet you should make sure that strength training is in your workout routine. Often when we go on a calorie deficit your body tends to lose muscle mass. Adding strength training will help build stronger muscle. Muscle increases your basic metabolic rate meaning you'll burn more calories throughout the day.

Solution: Add strength training to your workout. This can be in the form of bodyweight training or dumbell strength training.

4. Problem: You have too much stress

Stress can cause poor heath and weight gain. When you are stressed you body produces more cortisol, a stress hormone that can reduce muscle growth, increase fat retention (especially around the waist).

Solution: Make sure you have stress reducing activities in your day. Yoga is a workout that is great at reducing stress, improving flexibility, and muscle strength.

Related: Best Yoga for Weight Loss and Toning

5. Problem: You're not tracking what you eat

If you are not tracking how much and what you eat how do you know that you aren't eating too much food? Food  journals help to show exactly what you are eating and where your nutrients are coming from.

Solution: This doesn't have to take up much time. There are calories tracking apps for your smart phone that make it easy to track your calories.

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