Losing weight is a tricky business, so it’s no wonder most people struggle with it for years before finding identifying a program that actually works. Many will try one plan after another, and experience several discouraging setbacks, before finally reaching their goals. But if you work closely with us to craft a weight loss plan, you can avoid these common five mistakes and effectively cut months or years off of your lifestyle makeover.

Focusing on what you can’t eat. Those who are following a weight loss plan often view their eating regimen in terms of what they can’t eat. This only sets you up for a fixation on the “bad foods”. You feel deprived, and you crave them more and more. Focus on what you can have – even better, what you need to eat every day in order to be healthy – and you’ll feel full rather than deprived. And of course, there is no food so terrible that you can’t have a bite or two occasionally.

Eliminating entire food groups. We do indeed advocate a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss. However, “low” does not equal “zero”! You need some carbs, particularly those that come from healthy foods like whole grains and fruits. Don’t try to cut out carbs entirely, or you’ll end up with a quite unhealthy diet.

Another common culprit is the “low fat” diet. While a diet low in saturated fats is a good idea, you do need to eat “good” (unsaturated) fats. These nutrients fulfill vital a role within your body.

Eating a liquid diet. While a “cleanse” might be helpful on occasion (for a day or two), avoid any diet that orders you to replace real meals with liquids on a regular, long-term basis. You won’t be eating enough fiber and protein, and many of those juices contain far too much sugar.

Cutting calories too low. Sometimes people following a weight loss plan focus too hard on how much they’re eating, rather than what they’re eating. Yes, learning appropriate portion sizes is important. But if you try to cut calories too low, you’re going to feel hungry and grumpy all the time. You’re less likely to stick with the diet, and you risk nutritional insufficiency and damage to your metabolism.

Not having a weight loss plan at all. Any success in life requires first setting a specific goal, and then crafting a plan tailored specifically to that goal. Some people try to lose weight by simply “eating less” or “trying to exercise more”. But unless they set specific benchmark goals and define their eating plan very specifically, it will become difficult to stay motivated. Any weight lost is usually regained, because the changes were seen as temporary rather than a permanent lifestyle change.

Plus, a nutritional plan is important to ensure that your body is getting all of the nutrients it needs for optimal health. So give us a call, and we can discuss a healthy weight loss plan that actually works in the long term.