6 Worst Ways To Lose Weight… Part #2

In  Part #1, we covered 3 weight loss time wasters.  In this post, we’ll go a touch deeper. Truthfully, this list could be 20 items long, but I’m assuming I don’t have to cover things like the Shake Weight and those belts that shock your stomach.  It hurts my feelings that people still buy those things.

[As with life, the more things you know to stay away from, automatically your chances of doing more positive things increase]

It’s tough being bombarded with new diet information every day.  I get it, good information is not easy to come by.   I hope I can at least clear up some confusion here. If you have any further questions about what does and does not work and why, leave a comment and I’ll hit you back with a reply as soon as I can…

I promise.

But for now, let’s make you smarter by helping you avoid these mistakes…

#4 Eating “Low Fat” Foods

Firstly, our body and brain needs fat. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are essential to brain function, heart health, and new research is  being done to confirm other benefits as well.  Fat is NOT the enemy.  In the 1980s, the diet industry started waging war against “fat” because customers were convinced it was making them fat. Right? nope.

Typically when food companies lower fat content from their products they tend to add in some sort of sweetener or sugar substitute to make up for the drop in flavor.  In the end, you get a more unnatural product that maybe has 20% less calories.  But here’s the kicker… subconsciously, since we think we’re being healthy by eating something that is “low fat” or “non fat”, we’ll eat 30+% more.  This means we never reduce our calorie consumption, and in many cases, you actually increase your calories…. making you fatter.

The BAD fats:  stay away from Saturated and Trans fats, these are the jerks that clog our arteries and lead to heart disease and well, you know, not living.

Bottom Line: Low Fat Foods perpetuate the illusion that fat makes you fat.  The truth, consistently eating more calories than you burn will cause you to gain weight.

#5 Telling Everyone, “I’m on a diet”

I’m sure most of you have been here, I know I have.   Someone gives you the advice to tell your family, your friends, your barber, and your mailman that you’re on a diet. And magically, this is supposed to keep you accountable.  If that logic worked, there’d be a lot less infidelity and divorce, but we all now where that story goes.

The only thing this method does, is allows more people to hassle you if you quit, making you feel like a fool.  Nobody needs that.  And because of the other useless items on this list, the odds aren’t on your side for succeeding.

There are 3 different types of people that come out of the woodwork when you tell them you’re dieting:

1. The Behind Your Backers -  I know its sad to say, but there are some people that wait for others like you to fail at your diet, or if you succeed, to gain all the weight back.  These people use your failures to prove to themselves that losing weight is too hard, and so they are better off not trying. These people suck and will sabotage your diet somewhere down the line without you knowing it.
2. The Fitness Expert- These people mean well, but they just lead to a lot of confusion.  As soon as one of these people hear you are dieting they will offer you their 7 cents of tips and information.  This is great if they know what they are talking about, but since 95% of the population doesn’t, this just leads you to more confusion, which is never good. I admit, I used to totally be one of these people, but now I try to only give advice when asked for it….umm, or on this blog.
3. The Cheerleaders- These should be the ONLY people you tell your secret plans to lose weight to. These people are supportive, typically thin, active or have already lost a bunch of weight  themselves.  Here is where you will find understanding , empathy, and practical advice. Cheerleaders are also the first ones to genuinely help you celebrate with a piece of guiltless free cake when you’ve a milestone.   Because weight loss success doesn’t have to mean another celery stick.

Bottom Line: Be very wary of who should be on your weight loss team, and who is the enemy.  For example, sometimes your family are your cheerleaders and sometimes they’re your worst enemy. Only you know for sure.  So chooooose wisely.

#6 Diets that prescribe specific foods or drinks

Well, I won’t name all of these diets because seriously, who has that kind of time? But to name a few, Atkins, South Beach, the G.I. Diet, Blood Type, and the list goes on ad nauseum.

A successful diet plan MUST, MUST, MUST fit into your every day life. Otherwise, its not sustainable. We all need normality in our lives, and that means getting to enjoy our moments with our family and friends.  This concept is totally ignored by most diet creators.  Eating mainly protein (Atkins) only good carbs (G.I. Diet), or spending your life in the gym doesn’t allow for the “life problem.”

How is a vegetarian supposed to follow Atkins?  How is a meatlover supposed to give up meat because his blood type apparently doesn’t like it?

Bottom Line: Everyone’s life is unique, so you need a healthy balance of the foods you do enjoy to keep your sanity. Otherwise, after a month of restrictive dieting its off to the Hershey’s Factory to drown yourself in a huge barrell of chocolate until your needs are satisfied.

So, what’s the answer?

Every diet and pharma company wants you believe that losing weight and burning belly fat is this magically complex, abstract formula only achievable through expensive programs, drugs, machines, or memberships. This way it takes control out of your hands and into their.

Weight loss isn’t a TRILLION dollar industry for nothing.

The truth, is that how to lose weight is very simple, straight forward.  Its still the getting around life and our mental blocks that makes the path there more difficult.

Here at The Fat Loss Authority, its our mantra that calories in vs. calories out is the only proven straight line method to success, and how you do that can be a combination of anything that gets you there.   You need to burn more calories than you take in.

Find your personal BMR (basic metabolic rate) and then start learning how many calories are in the food you eat.  Then looks for convenient ways and tricks to eat less, and move more throughout your day.

Only you know where your weaknesses and strengths are.

Some of you out there may disagree with me, but I suggest you try it for a couple months and then come back and tell me your experience and we’ll work from there.

But by avoiding the 6 Worst Ways to Lose Weight, you’re already better off, and probably richer for it too.

Here’s to the new thinner, healthier, and happier future you…

RECOMMENDED READING:

Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink

Volumetrics by Barbara Rolls