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You’ve been dieting for weeks and thought you were doing all the right things. You’re committed and motivated, but those inches won’t shift. Your diet may be failing for the following reasons.
- You May Be Eating Too Much
Is it possible you’re eating too much? If you’ve already lost a significant amount of weight, you may need fewer calories to sustain you. If you’re still dieting and consuming the same amount of calories, it’s possible you’re eating too much. To lose weight you should be eating 500-600 calories less than you need per day.
- Hidden Calories
You may be consuming more calories than you realise. So-called healthy options often have hidden calories. For example, foods that are virtually fat-free may still contain sugar. Look at the so-called freebies in your diet. Some of these can really add up. You only need an extra 100-200 calories a day for your diet to fail.
Wherever possible prepare your own food. This will allow you to control all of the ingredients. You can also take out calorific elements and replace them with healthy options. Preparing and cooking your own food needn’t be time-consuming. There are lots of accessories that will cut down preparation times. Look at reviews when seeking the best kitchen aids. For example, a complete comparison of KitchenAid stand mixers will you find the option that’s right for you.
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- Don’t Drink Your Calories
Drinks can contain hidden calories. Though they may seem like a healthy option, it’s not always the case. Depending on where you buy, there may be 100 calories or more in your skinny cappuccino. Just because you opt for skimmed milk, doesn’t mean it’s calorie free. Squashes and cordials are also culprits, even the low sugar versions. It all adds up over time.
Fruit juices and smoothies are often advertised as being healthy and nutritious. However, if you look at the label, you might be surprised at how much sugar they contain. It’s always best to prepare your own, so you know exactly what goes into it.
- You’re Not Eating Enough
Not consuming enough calories each day can also have a negative impact on your diet. Constantly depriving your body of valuable nutrition will mess up your metabolism. Your body then goes into starvation mode and maintains as many calories as possible. In this instance, increasing your intake a little may actually help you to lose weight.
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- You’re Not Consuming The Right Kind Of Calories
Calories are calories. However, your body processes food differently. For example, 200 calories of chocolate are very different to 200 calories of lean chicken. The way in which your body will process and store these different food types is very different. It is, therefore, important to ensure you’re consuming the right food.
- You Don’t Have A Structure
When you’ve been dieting for a while, it’s easy to become complacent. You guess at measurements and don’t keep a record of what you have already eaten. So it’s easy for the extra calories to mount up. If you’ve stopped measuring and recording, go back to it. Spend a week weighing and measuring your food again and see if you notice a difference.
If your diet has stopped working, there could be any number of reasons. Review, take stock and check the possible causes above. Diets require thought and revisions. But once you have identified the problem, you can take quick action to get back on track.
