By Barb Taylor


Losing weight requires hard work and discipline. Even those who start a diet program and stick with it sometimes do not obtain the results they had hoped for. Problem is, you can be doing things that you are unaware of that can preventing your from losing weight. Some of these things include:

Thinking You Burned More Calories Than You Actually Have

If you are using a calorie expenditure table to determine the number of calories burned when exercising, you are more than likely overestimating calories burned.

The majority of these tables are inaccurate by as much as twenty percent.

To accurately figure the calories burned during a workout you should use a heart monitor.

Avoiding Strength Training

When developing an exercise plan for weight loss be sure to include both cardio and strength training. This is an important element of weight loss because weight lifting builds muscle, which in turn increases your metabolism and helps you to burn fat long after the workout is complete.

If you are doing everything you should be doing and still not losing weight add in some strength training. You might be surprised by what a difference it makes in your results.

Overindulging In Cocktails

Alcohol slows down your body's ability to burn fat. Instead of burning off food your body will first burn off the alcohol that you have consumed.

Not only does alcohol alter your bodys normal digestion process, it also stimulates hunger causing you to eat more.

In addition to slowing down your bodys ability to burn fat, alcohol is packed with calories and has absolutely no nutritional value.

Cutting Back On Meals

It is important to nourish your body throughout the day. Skipping meals is not a good idea because it can have a negative impact on your metabolism.

When your body goes without food for long periods of time your metabolism begins to slow down.

Skipping meals can also cause you to eat more than you normally would have when you do have a chance to grab a meal

To avoid this, dont skip a meal instead eat 5 or six mini meals daily. This will provide the energy you need for the day and prevent you from indulging in unhealthy and unnecessary snacking. Whatever your daily calorie goal is, divide it by six to get the approximate number of calories each meal should contain.

Anticipating Immediate Results

So many people have unrealistic expectations of weight loss. They watch people on television who have lost 20 pounds in a month and set that standard for themselves.

Losing weight and getting healthy doesnt happen overnight. Healthy weight loss is considered between one and two pounds each week.

People who stick to this formula tend to have better luck keeping the weight off and sticking to the healthy lifestyle changes they have made.

Being aware of things that can hinder your weight loss is key. These weight loss tips can be an instrumental part of a long term successful weight loss plan.






About the Author:



0 comments :