Weight loss may sound like a simple equation involving fewer calories and more workouts, but anyone who has cut down on the extra calories and pumped up at the gym knows it is a lot harder than that. The biggest cause of demotivation can be the lack of results. Nothing hurts more than a week or two of eating clean and exercising, only to find out that the weighing scale hasn\u2019t budged even a tad bit!<\/p>\n
However, instead of getting bummed about it, identify your mistakes. Here is a list of 15 common mistakes a lot of women make while trying to shed those extra pounds:<\/p>\n
1 – Overdosing on protein<\/strong><\/p>\n Eggs, peanut butter, white meat, high protein shakes are considered to be the key food items for weight loss and muscle gain. But, often, women overlook the fact that they need only around 50 grams of protein daily, according to CDC<\/a> and anything more than that will be stored as fat.<\/p>\n Also, try to opt for natural sources of protein instead of consuming sugar laden bars and shakes. Lentils, soybeans, chicken, fish and eggs are excellent natural sources of protein. But for vegans, there isn’t much choice. Luckily though, vega protein<\/a> has now bridged that gap and is providing an excellent source of protein through natural plant sources.<\/p>\n 2 – Not eating enough veggies<\/strong><\/p>\n The importance of adding 2.5 cups of vegetables to your meals cannot be stressed enough. Vegetable intake speeds up the weight loss process by adding fiber to your body.<\/p>\n Can’t eat a bowl of salad in one go? Sneak some sliced tomatoes or lettuce in your sandwich, but make sure it goes in.<\/p>\n 3 – Skipping breakfast<\/strong><\/p>\n Although we are reminded since childhood that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we fail to follow this sane advice. Most women who want to lose weight tend to skip breakfast and have a glass of juice, instead. Fruit juices have sugar in them which increases insulin levels in the body. Thus, you start feeling hungry after a couple of hours which consequently results in over eating.<\/p>\n 4 – Not getting enough sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n Did you know that our metabolism is at its best when our body is asleep<\/a> and well-rested? Not getting enough sleep results in a slower metabolism, which eventually slows down your weight loss rate. So, don\u2019t deprive yourself of those much needed naps.<\/p>\n 5 – Eating too little<\/strong><\/p>\n Steer clear of fad diets that are literally starvation programs. Always choose a path that will give slow but steady results. Consuming anything less than 1000 calories a day will affect your metabolism and muscles negatively. Losing 10 pounds in a week is not possible, unless it is water weight, which will crawl back once you revert to your daily routine.<\/p>\n 6 – Not drinking enough liquids<\/strong><\/p>\n Not only is water is what our survival depends on, it can help with weight loss too. It helps metabolize stored fats and so the heavier a person, the more water he requires for the body to flush out fats and toxins. But fluid intake doesn\u2019t just end with water, herbal teas can very well be part of it. These teas have zero caffeine and just 4-8 calories per cup. They soothe the senses, help warm you on a cold winter day. Herbal teas like breathe easy tea<\/a> will even relieve chest congestion, wheezing and symptoms of asthma.<\/p>\n 7 – Not exercising enough<\/strong><\/p>\n Taking the stairs or walking to work are healthy habits, but they do not count as serious exercise, especially, if you are looking to shed those extra pounds. Exercising intelligently will create more lean mass in your body, making it easier for you to lose fat and maintain weight loss in the long run.<\/p>\n 8 – Being scared of weight lifting<\/strong><\/p>\n A lot of women think that lifting weights will cause them to bulk up like The Hulk. Stay clear of this misconception. In fact, lifting weights is one of the most effective ways to add muscle mass to your body and to increase your metabolism. It also helps in toning the fat in difficult areas like the belly and the glutes.<\/p>\n 9 – Eating too often<\/strong><\/p>\n Ditch the ‘eat every two hour’ rule. Only eat when you are really hungry. Try drinking a glass of water instead whenever you experience frequent hunger pangs!<\/p>\n 10 – Not maintaining a record<\/strong><\/p>\n