common diet mistakes to be avoided

Many people are on weight loss diets and are trying to shed excess pounds.  Not everyone will be successful in his or her dieting attempts.  Why do some people find success while others fail?  There are some common dieting mistakes that you need to avoid to give yourself a better chance for success.

Mistake #1 – Not Counting Calories

Many people think that they can easily judge what they should be eating and so they don't need to count calories.  In fact it can be very important to keep track of your daily caloric intake.  Calories can be very deceiving.  Keep a log of all your daily calories.  If you prefer you can write down the foods you eat and look up the calories later on.  At any rate you still need to check and measure the calories that you take in.

Mistake #2 – Not Exercising

Even the best of diet plans will work better when you exercise.  Exercising will not only help you burn extra calories but also helps your body regain a more normal metabolism allowing you to burn even more calories throughout the day. Be wary of diet plans that tell you that you don't need to exercise since activity will help you burn away calories.  Adding even a 15-minute workout to your day will help you greatly improve your fitness level and help you lose weight.

Mistake #3 – Not Eating Enough

Dieting doesn't mean that you need to starve yourself.  You should be able to eat a healthy diet with smaller portions and lose weight.  When you eat too few calories you're actually depriving yourself of the vitamins and nutrients that are essential for proper health.  Check to see how many calories you should be eating and try to stick to that amount.

Mistake #4 – Not Setting Goals

Weight loss goals, like anything else, need to be spelled out.  When you fail to set goals you're heading for defeat.  You need to set realistic weight loss goals so that you know what you're striving for.  Setting goals is like giving yourself a map for attaining your ideal weight.  Without the map you'll likely head off course and fail to lose weight.

Mistake #5 – Not Changing Eating Habits

Dieting isn't simply about losing weight – it's also about keeping the weight off.  In order to do that you need to develop healthy eating habits that you can carry with you for the rest of your life.  Learn to eat healthier foods in smaller portions and soon you'll be changing the way you like to eat.  Many people go on an eating binge as soon as the diet is over and simply end up packing the pounds right back on.

Mistake #6 – Not Getting Support

Many people think that dieting is a personal thing and so they don't involve anyone else in their quest.  The truth is that the right kind of support can help you reach your weight loss goals more quickly.  Choose people for your support team who are helpful, positive and supportive.  Ignore those who send negative messages.  Enough positive reinforcement will help you through the rough spots.