Feel like you’ve heard every diet tip there is out there? We don’t blame you, there’s a lot of information and some of it is quite conflicting.
Snack more – snack less, eat within these time frames – eat more often, don’t eat carbs – carbs aren’t the enemy.
We’ve pulled together some eating habits most people think will help you lose weight, but actually won’t.
Eating habits that you think will help you lose weight, but won’t…
1. Eating little
At the end of the day, you might not be losing weight because you’re eating too little. When you eat less, your metabolism slows down or when you do go to eat, you tend to eat more because you are feeling hungry.
If you work out your basal metabolic rate, or your BMR, this will tell you how many calories you need to eat to stay the same. Your BMR is based on things like your weight, height, age, sex and whether or not you are breastfeeding, and everyone’s BMR is different.
When you know your BMR, you can then know how many calories you should be taking in to lose weight rather than maintain it.
Once you know this, making small changes in the way that you eat, the types of foods you eat and the amount of food you eat could kick-start your weight loss. You can use our BMR calculator to work yours out here.
2. Skipping meals
Following on from eating too little is skipping meals. If you skip breakfast and lunch, you are going to be starving come dinner time, and this may cause you to overindulge. Plus, skipping meals will also slow down your metabolism.
If you don’t feel like eating, try drinking one of our Healthy Mummy smoothies instead.
You may think by not eating that you will lose weight but sometimes the body stores food to protect itself, if doesn’t think you’ll eat for a while.
Often, people who don’t eat throughout the day then tend to overeat at night because they are so hungry.
3. Eating ‘health food’
Not all things marketed as health food is healthy for your. In fact, things like sushi, smoothie bowls and protein bars might not have the opposite effect.
It’s important to be aware of what you are putting into your body.
Some sushi are covered in healthy sauces, smoothie bowls are often loaded with fruit bases and nut butters, which contain a lot of calories.
You could try making your own and keeping track of the calorie content as well as the frequency of which you are eating these ‘health foods’.
4. Going gluten-free
While there are definitely benefits to going gluten-free, especially if you are intolerant to gluten, it doesn’t necessarily mean that going gluten-free will help you lose weight. Going gluten-free can sometimes mean eating more processed foods.
If you do go gluten-free, steer clear of substitutes like bread, cakes, cookies – which will be loaded with sugar.
5. Never treating yourself
While we definitely are not advocating for eating cake and treats every day of the week, it is important to treat yourself, to not stick to a super strict meal plan.
The problem with never treating yourself is, it’s hard to follow a strict and healthy eating plan all of the time.
It’s okay to have the odd treat or go out for dinner. You’re less likely to fall off the wagon if you do!
6. Opting for low-fat food
Low-fat food doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for you. Sometimes, low-fat foods like milk and yoghurt may be replaced with more sugar. So make sure you always read the label!
The problem with focusing on such as specific route or elimination of certain foods is that often you will not be able to sustain this healthy eating lifestyle.
The best way to achieve the weight loss is by partaking in a healthy eating lifestyle revolution.
By doing this, it will not be the fat or the lack of fat that leads you to lose weight. It will be the overall healthy choices and daily food decisions.
7. Eliminating Food Groups
Many of us have been lured in by crazy weight loss diets for ‘quick fixes’.
And sure, while some of us may see a quick drop in weight while following a soup-only diet or some sort of liquid detox – the reality is – when we come off these plans – the weight just piles back on.
When losing weight, it’s important to eat nutritious food and exercise regularly.
