Diet & Fitness Blog
25 Biggest Weight-Loss Mistakes
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By Julia HaveyeDiets Contributor
OK, you are reading this, so it is safe to assume you want to lose weight. I bet you are anxiously looking for tips "to do" and a diet to "go on," which are essential to successful weight loss, but those aren't the only things that you need to know.
Why? Many women have spent an average of 20 years "dieting," so another safe assumption is that we know a lot about what to do right. However, little attention is usually given on what not to do. Apply this list of things NOT to do to your healthful regimen, and spare yourself many of the pitfalls that derail most dieters.
1. Having a negative defeatist attitude. If you think there is no way that you are going to succeed this time, lose the weight and keep it off, then you will be right!
2. Going on any diet that is NOT a manner of eating that you can adhere to for the rest of your life. Be careful when deciding what nutritional plan you want to follow, as it should be a manner of eating that matches your tastes, budget and lifestyle.
3. Believing that you will eat cabbage soup -- or any other low-cal, monotonous fare everyday for the rest of your life. It isn't realistic to think you will eat that way for the entire time it takes to lose all the weight. It certainly won't teach you much about how to live healthfully for the long-term.
4. Weighing in too frequently, letting the scale rule your mood and actions. Pack the scale up, put a big red bow around it, and unwrap it after six months of consistent healthful living. It might actually show you something you want to see!
5. Not drinking enough water. Water is all that you need to drink, and you MUST drink at least 64 ounces of it a day!
6. Drinking sugar-laden drinks -- including "fruit" drinks. Fruitopia is neither a fruit nor a Utopia! Try putting your favorite non-water beverage in your pet's bowl, and see if they will drink it.
7. Consuming processed foods more often than fresh foods. Eating as close to natural is the best way to ensure that your body is as healthy as possible.
8. Not having a plan. "We never plan to fail, we fail to plan." Get a plan and stick with it, but make sure each step is realistic and change is gradual!
9. Not being aware of the nutritional benefits or detriments of what you consume. Lettuce is a great choice to eat, but spinach and other darker leaves have more nutritional benefit than the iceberg variety.
10. Finishing every last bite of a meal, even after you are full. Mother was wrong! Don't clean your plate, let the dishwasher do that!
11. Going back for seconds at meals. If you like it that much, have it as a leftover the next day! Too much of even a good thing is no longer a good thing!
12. Skipping breakfast. Mother was right on this one. It is the most important meal of the day!
13. Starving all day. When you finally get around to eating, it is usually something unhealthy, and it gets stored as energy later, rather than burned as energy now! You totally mess up your metabolism if you do this!
14. Bingeing after "falling off the wagon," and waiting until tomorrow to get back on track. Admit now that you will stumble on this journey. Make it your goal to lengthen the amount of time between stumbles, and shorten the time it takes to get back on track.
15. Thinking you are genetically destined to be fat. The only fat gene is the one left hanging in your closet after you lose your weight! You may be predisposed to a condition, but HOW you live determines how great its effect on your life will be!
16. Treating "fat" as a personality trait. Fat is NOT a personality trait; it is a physical condition. Blond isn't a trait, either; it is a hair color! Do not allow yourself to be branded by ANY physical attribute or determent!
17. Not living each day to the fullest… thinking that it will come when you are thinner. BE, DO and then you will HAVE! BE a healthier person, DO the things a healthier person DOES and soon, you will HAVE a healthier life!
18. Thinking pills, powders or potions are more powerful than they really are for achieving weight loss. If those things really worked, no one would be overweight!
19. Thinking of exercise as a chore instead of a way to improve your health and life. If today, you were in an accident, paralyzed and could never walk again, do you think you would long to be able to go for a walk? Exercise is a "GET TO", not a "HAVE TO." Push yourself; you will be amazed at how it feels!
20. Indulging excessively in alcohol. Bottom line: When you drink, you suck down excess calories, alter your mind and let down your guard.
21. Watching sports rather than participating in sports. Would it be more fun to watch the Super Bowl or be the MVP of the game? Sunday football is a tradition, but playing a game of it in your own front yard will provide memories that will last long after the season is over!
22. Watching too much television. New rule: NO TV viewing unless you have walked for 30 minutes!
23. Thinking that "dieting" sprees -- and not a total lifestyle change -- will garner lasting weight loss results. If you aren't changing your life, you aren't making lasting changes!
24. Consuming fast foods on a regular basis. The fried, greasy and high-calorie fast food that dominates our society's eating habits today is the leading cause of the obesity epidemic that we now face.
25. Waiting for tomorrow to "get started," rather than RIGHT NOW! Right now, there are thousands of members logged on to eDiets.com, in the chat rooms, on the support boards, watching online anytime meetings and waiting to lend their support. There are teams of nutritionists to help you understand basic, healthy human nutritional needs. There is hope, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
YOU can do this! Or, actually, I guess you can't do these things! Whatever, but you know what I mean, you are going to succeed this time, and the entire eDiets.com team is here to educate, motivate and inspire you to your dreams and goals!
You've seen Julia on the QVC home shopping network and the Wayne Brady Show, in USA Today, The National Enquirer, Glamour, Bride's and more! She's been called "America's weight-loss Cinderella, someone with the passion of Tony Robbins, enthusiasm of Richard Simmons and the humor of Jerry Seinfeld." To get your copy of Julia's blockbuster motivational book, Awaken the Diet Within, From Overweight to Looking Great -- If I Can Do It, So Can You! click here.
Labels: exercise, nutrition, tips, weight-loss
Comment by 
said... - Sunday, January 13, 2008 4:20:00 AM
"6. ...Try putting your favorite non-water beverage in your pet's bowl, and see if they will drink it."
Ha! Maybe cats (they can't taste 'sweet'), but not other animals. I had a dog who loved RC Cola. My great-grandparents had a terrier who started each day with coffee with cream & sugar - and they didn't even drink coffee!
Comment by said... - Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:12:00 AM
5. Not drinking enough water. Water is all that you need to drink, and you MUST drink at least 64 ounces of it a day!
I've recently read that this is in fact wrong, and can actually be unhealthy. Most of the water that we need we get from the foods we eat and getting too much water can actually hurt you. Check out this article on MSN, it has a little bit of that information: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/22575539/?GT1=10755
Comment by said... - Sunday, January 13, 2008 4:04:00 PM
To "anonymous"
First of all the MSN article stated that too much water can hurt you if you have bladder control problems.
Second, most of our water does not come from the foods we eat, especially if it isnt mostly fruits and veggies.
Do more research.
And to "wolfster" I cant believe you are promoting giving caffeine to animals like its okay. The reason they like it is because they became addicted to humans bad habits.
Comment by said... - Monday, January 14, 2008 8:23:00 AM
To "anonymous": Most Americans do not drink enough water, let alone too much. Don't let the media confuse you on this important issue. A good rule of thumb for how much water you need every day...half your weight in pounds is how many ounces you should shoot for (ie; if you weigh 180lbs, you need roughly 90 ounces of fluids daily--that DOES include the water you get from "watery" foods such as fresh fruits and veggies, soups, jello, etc). However, individual fluid needs vary greatly based on age, weight, activity level and presence of any medical conditions, so ask your doctor or a Registered Dietitian for information that's specific to you.
Comment by said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:50:00 AM
We should eat only that can be utilized properly. i mean quantity as well as quality of food. We do not bother while eating what to eat and how much to eat. The requirement is only 300 500 grams but in take is placed more than 5000 grams or plus. We are living so scientific era that has restricted the human mobility. The machines are performing physical activity. And most of the work is taken from the machines through the remote controls. The machines have occupied the human beings mentally as well as physically. So much so we can say in this mechanized life that machines are not important rather machines are important.
The attitudes have been changed. No body wants to exert physical. Every one is in search of easiness and short cuts. This has made us lethargic, sluggish and imbecile. Resultantly no perspiration, burning of fat or excretion of wastes happens. Than medicines are used to avoid the self animated diseases. Excessive food not only devastates the physical health but also the burning of money first on food and then on medical treatment. Ultimately we become the uninvited patients. Nothing like prevention that is better than cure.
Comment by 
Muhammad said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:52:00 AM
Comment by said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:33:00 AM
1.Mental frame is essential for the commitment that going on a diet requires, I know it too well. Awareness has to be kept forever.
2./3. If one needs to lose 10 pounds, then it is OK, any diet that emplies food intake control but is equally known as healthy may work, on the other hand, if one needs to lose 50 pounds, it is better to go for a diet that can be followed for the rest of one's days.
4. There may be an atitude of weighing three times a day, or, opposed to that, to lack the courage to take the weight on a scale.
Best is to wrap the scale and put it away, PROVIDED one is on a diet and decided to respect that diet and actually does that; to wrep the scale and eat hectically usually results in 50 pound gains. So, put scale away while you are on a diet, and take your weight once a week when you eat too much and not the right food.
5.Yes, yes, water is a must!
6. Yes, again, to water, no, to hidden sugars!
10/11. Getting used to small portions, and take another serving, half of the first one, is a trick to follow.
12/13. Not eating breakfast often means to eat a huge dinner and supper, and thus reverse some imp elements in metabolism.
Gradually reverse that wrong habit, and have a better sleep as a bonus.
15. There is a small percenage of genetic or non-explaind yet obesity cases, aprox 0,92%. Too many people evoke that tiny percentage, but I can conform that is REAL!
18. Good diet and increased physical exercises, including walking, are the only healthy pair; none would excange being fat on being ill. Money spent on pills should be used for gratification gifts on the lose-wight succes. They really don't work or, they make you even sicker...even if slightly thinner. Better fat than sick, anyway! Healthy and thin is were we should aim to go!
19. Tragedy is fat people lack energy, and when you lack energy, exercising is not agreeable, because it does not energise you, it leaves you even more tired. There is a point when, losing a few pounds, there is a shift towards feeling energised: fat people should strive for reaching that point, because once there, energy comes in and fat goes away. There is a POINT of great will, once there...one is a winner.
22. Nobody knows if people get fat watching too much TV, or once fat, they replace real life for the TV staff. Maybe radio waves make people belive that they actually eat everything that is being advertised and thus get fat by suggestion. Let's think of not watching TV as to a better life, and imagine ourselves as actors and actually act in our own place...
24. Fast food would be this: go to the store, buy veggs and fruit, and once home, make two salades, one salty, one sweeter...ten minutes to the store, ten minutes in the kitchen, that would be HEALTHY FAST FOOD! This one is allowed!
Thanx for the right 25 rules,
"former fat, former thin, me"...
Comment by said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:27:00 PM
Mr Anonymous
How can you post wrong facts so confidently? You have not even read that article about the water & so confidently stated that drinking lots of water is a wrong fact. Please do your homework before preaching to the world. The article clearly states that we shud drink more waters and that only people with bladder problems need to consult the doctor and reduce the amount. Get your facts right next time mister.
Comment by said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:56:00 PM
Some people actually have water hydration issues in which the water intoxicates them. I know special needs individuals with this., however, water is good for you-64 ounces
Comment by 
nychik303 said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:53:00 PM
actually. wolfster is right. his source was completely out of of context but he is right; too much water is bad for you. there are these things called micronutrients that you as a human need (ie iron, selenide, etc). and in order for these micronutrients to perform properly, you need them to be at a certain concentration in your cells. now although water is SUPER important (because it is the medium for cells and you need them to transport nutrients in and waste out), too much can lower the concentration of these micronutrients and cause them to work inproperly. your goal should always be 64 oz but only if your diet isnt at its peak. eatin plenty of fruits and veggies should account for some of that water. but im not letting the media fool me. i try to drink 2 bottles of water daily...i know its importants. drink water; just dont overdose.
Comment by worried said... - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:29:00 PM
I've had the Baric Surgery and has lost over 100lbs but I find myself putting the weight back on. I work a weird work schedule like 7pm-6am and work in a Service Call Envirnoment. I find myself eating all the time, sometimes when I'm not hungry. I drink a lot of coffee also to keep me awake. I go home and sleep until it is time for me to go to work because I be tired but there has to be a better way of doing this. I try to eat healthy but I get that sweet tooth every now and then. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. And I agree, I need to drink more water.
Comment by said... - Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:36:00 PM
Most of those are pretty right-on "rules." Not sure about the water-I'll go with what my doc recommends. I do know that it doesn't work to "go on a diet"-one must change one's way of eating---for life!
Comment by said... - Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:54:00 PM
Easy saying.... Food is always like a medicine if we take them in a limit but if we take them over the limit it is like a "poison" to our body.10Q very much for the tips.
Comment by said... - Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:42:00 AM
Excellent, sensible and explicit.
I am adhering to 90% of it all.
Keeping well so far, only worry about the business-life of my health food - though world brand.
Comment by Shan Eris said... - Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:53:00 AM
For those who lack energy, or are tired, have 2 - 4 cups of green tea, daily, with lemon, or a little sweetener, such as Xylitol (health food stores) or fruit sugar, (fructose: from supermarket sugar aisles) because they have a much lower glycaemic index than sugar, or even honey. Use them in coffee, as well. Minimise consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grains, such as white bread, donuts, etc., and eat more wholefoods, especially non-starchy vegetables. Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily. Set a time for exercise: put in a reminder, memo, or alarm in your PDA, cellular mobile phone, or email calendar.
Comment by said... - Saturday, February 16, 2008 10:09:00 AM
worried, if you are hungary all the time try eating more protien like eggs, chicken or fish. Make meals with those that include veggies and take them with you. Also, have healthy snacks with you while you are at work so if you get the urge to snack it will be something healthy.
Comment by said... - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:54:00 AM
Two Water Experiences
My 6 month old son and I had the flu. I focused on getting him to drink liquids. My husband took us to the doctor since I felt so bad. I could hardly sit up without feeling faint. I was so liquid deprived that my blood pressure was lower when I sat up than when I laid down. I drank 4 cups of water. They kept me until my blood pressure came back up. All the symptoms of faintness dissapeared within 30 minutes.
I donate blood regularly, usually at work events. On a Saturday, I was slacking on my water and I felt sluggish. They could not get a a full pint from me. The blood stopped flowing. I drank water and stayed to chat until I was alert again.
On weekdays, I drink 3 cups of water by 10:00 a.m. I am not a morning person, but after 10:00 a.m. I feel more alert and energetic.
I drink my 8 cups of water in a pattern throughout the day that works for me. Following my water plan (and my food plan) makes a difference in my day.
Moderation rather than excess. anything.
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 8:54:00 AM
I find the absolute best thing for weight loss is eggs in the morning. Even a big omelette with cheese and veggies. I don't even feel hungry hours later but I keep nibbling throughout the day, small meals. In a few days, I notice a difference in my weight.
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 10:15:00 AM
OK - so I am following all of these rules, limiting useless calories, exercising 3-4 times a week for at least 45 minutes each time, both cardio and resistance training, cut out all soda and empty calories - I have been doing this for the past 6 weeks and NOTHING - NOT ONE POUND LOST - AGAHHHHH. I just want to scream... any suggestions on how I can jump start my metabolism????
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 11:33:00 AM
Love the 25 biggest mistakes! Every article Juila Havey writes is exactly how I feel. She lost a lot of weight didn't she? Are there on line meetings w/ her?
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:30:00 PM
Anonymous @ 10:15, Dont fret this is completely normally. You are building muscle in the place of fat so naturally the scale will not reflect this. Look at the way your clothes fit. Measure your self, and cut out high glycemic items such as white breat potatoes, and white rice. Just doing those things along and you will lose tons.
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:39:00 PM
Anonymous @ 10:15. That is actually normal, you are replacing muscle with fat. Try your on your skinny jeans and see if you fit into them, have your clothes fit looser. The best way to check your progress with resistance training is to measure yourself. Oh and cut out white bread, white rice and white potatoes, those will only spike your sugar.
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:52:00 PM
For the person that has not lost any weight in 6 weeks. I started writing down everything that i was eating. If you look on the back of most packages, it says how many calories are in that food. I also go to calorieking.com and you can find some usefull information there. You might notice that maybe you are not cutting enough or too much calories off your diet. For example one day i will eat 1200-1400 calories on a regular day and to jump start my metablolism pick it up one day to 1400-1600 calories the next day. Drink lots of water, Lots of fruit, Yogurt. Have one day where you can cheat. But dont go eat a super greasy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just pick one meal and splurge a little. And make sure that you are exercising to lose weight. Start off slow, and work your way up do your endurance. Just dont go walk on the treadmill. Try to exert yourself a little. I use the incline, it will raise your heartrate where you need it to be to lose that fat.That is my advice. I have lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks.
Comment by Ursie said... - Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:03:00 PM
Dieting is a way of life and the changing of a lifestyle. One must adapt healthy eating habits, drink plentey of water and exercise. I had lap-band surgery in march 2007
and it has truly been a journey.
Comment by said... - Friday, February 22, 2008 5:21:00 PM
I only saw one comment about resistance training - it is the most important activity you can perform. Do it every other day, and make sure you always challenge yourself. Muscle can only be built if it is challenged. Do as many repetitions as you can for all muscles. If you eat right, the fat will disappear. Adding to that, it is fat you want to lose, not weight. Muscle weighs almost 2x that of fat, so you can weigh more and still look great (to a point).
I personally weigh 30lbs more that 10 years ago, and have 1/2 the body fat (I am a fitness trainer).
Good luck - and if you are sincere about wanting to get thin, talk to a fitness specialist - not just a dietitian or doctor.
Comment by said... - Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:50:00 PM
There neverhas been any scientific data to "prove" that 64 oz of water
per day is a mandatory amount. But water is good for you and is has no calories so that is a plus. The wizest medical advice is to drink what you need to have medium dilute urine. This amount is different for every person
laurathepharmacist@yahoo.com
Comment by Julia Havey said... - Friday, April 11, 2008 10:20:00 PM
Comment by Clinton Walker III said... - Friday, May 02, 2008 9:01:00 AM
One huge mistake is always making excuses about time. This is the number one reason I get from my clients.
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