It’s no wonder that the weight loss industry brings in several billion dollars per year; losing weight is hard work! As with anything that is difficult to accomplish, dieters often make mistakes based upon common myths. As you put together your nutrition plan, watch out for these common mistakes.

Going “all or nothing”. You might begin your weight loss plan by making a list of foods you can’t eat anymore, but that’s a pretty bad approach. There’s no way you can be expected not to ever taste your favorite foods again. Instead of placing unreasonable limits on yourself, commit to learning portion control and maintaining a healthy diet. Occasionally you can indulge in a small amount of your favorite treats.

Cutting out entire food groups. Along those same lines, some people cut out entire food groups. But often this results in nutritional deficiencies, and can actually trigger cravings for the forbidden fruit (or meat, or cheese, or grains).

Not eating enough. Some very enthusiastic dieters cut their calories too low, and the result is lethargy, headaches, and crankiness. It’s hard to follow a diet for very long when you’re miserable. Plus, cutting calories too low puts your body into “starvation mode” and your metabolism will actually drop in order to compensate.

Ditching all fats. It’s really too bad that we named an entire class of nutrients “fats”, because the word has such a negative connotation. Your body actually needs some fat in order to properly utilize certain nutrients. Remember that “good fats” like avocados, olive oil, fish, and nuts should be a part of your diet.

Cutting out the wrong sugars. “Sugar” is another bad word in the diet world, but not all sugars are bad for you. Don’t make the mistake of cutting out fruits and veggies just because they contain naturally occurring sugars.

Using inappropriate rewards. Some people feel that a good week of healthy eating and exercise earns them a weekend “off”. The problem with this mindset is that a huge block of time can become a free-for-all, during which you undo all of your progress from the previous week. Since changing your diet is a long-term lifestyle choice, continue that choice every day of the week. But remember that a small reward is appropriate; a mini cupcake, for example, or a small serving of chips or a few bites of dark chocolate are appropriate.

Failing to make a plan. Possibly the biggest diet mistake is a failure to plan. Weight loss is difficult for nearly everyone, but getting professional help can make a huge difference in your results. We specialize in helping clients identify the nutrition and exercise plans that are right for them; give us a call, and we can help you put together a weight loss program designed for success.