There are 3 critical mistakes we make, according to a new survey. We don't have enough motivation, we starve ourselves, and we can't face the "bad days". According to weight loss survey conducted by dieters is to select the three biggest problems they face when dieting. The most common problems reported were: "insufficient incentive to lose weight" (76%); "Hunger" (72%); and "Bad Days" (70%). While these results will come as no surprise to most dieters, they do highlight the importance of motivation in the dieting process. We investigate how these problems occur, and what steps can be taken to address them.
- Why do we need encouragement? We gain weight because we take in more energy than we use. Either because we eat too many calories, or burn too few calories, or maybe both. So if we want to lose weight then we have to improve our eating habits and exercise habits. And it's not easy, because let's face it — old habits aren't easily abandoned, especially if they relate to biting our favorite treats. We need a powerful encouragement to help us change. Specifically, we need an answer to the question: "How exactly will I benefit from losing weight?" When faced with this question, many dieters have no answer. People who do this usually respond with: "I will feel better" or "My health will improve". Others understand that they are trying to lose weight to please their doctor, or their partner, or simply because they are "overweight." Unfortunately, none of these reasons are strong enough to help us succeed. So when temptation comes, we are unable to resist.
- What type of incentive is best? Our motivation to lose weight should be based on a selfish, specific gain. A good example might be an upcoming beach vacation, or a family occasion, or the achievement of a specific mobility or fitness goal. It should be as specific as possible (general benefits are useless) and ideally pertain to a certain date. Losing your weight to please others rarely works. Don't worry about dieting unless you have good incentives. Because no matter how good the diet, no matter how valuable an exercise plan, unless you have a powerful reason to change your habits, you won't be successful.
- Hunger Kills Diets: Most dieters are still convinced that calories are their enemy. So the lesser they eat, the faster they are likely to lose weight. It is not true. In fact, the less we eat, the more hungry we are and the easier it is to fall into temptation. The human body is trained to eat when it is hungry, and no amount of willpower can neutralize this basic urge. This is why binge-eating is a common response to a low-calorie diet.
- How to Avoid Hunger: There's no rocket science here. Avoiding hunger simply means eating regularly throughout the day, and keeping your calorie intake above 1000-1200 per day. It curbs hunger, thus reducing the urge to overeat, and furthermore helps maintain a regular high level of calorie-burning.
- Eat too much instead of too little: We all have days when we feel extra hungry, even when we're dieting. It's not a problem - just eat more! It is always better to eat a little more than not enough. Can this help you lose weight? Yes. Taking a few extra days to achieve your goal is not a problem. The real danger is not eating enough food and being hungry and depressed. This is a recipe for a binge.
- Bad days and the problem of perfection: No dieter is perfect. The truth is that all dieters experience "bad days" or fall prey to the occasional temptation. Sadly, most dieters insist on "being perfect." They cannot tolerate these lapses. So if they go to a friend and eat 2 containers of ice cream and a box of cookies, they are torn to pieces. "I'm no use!" they cry. "I'm a failure!" Overwhelmed by the guilt of not being perfect, he abandoned his diet out of disgust. It's the blame that does the damage. In this situation, the actual binge is usually fairly harmless. I mean, we need to eat a huge amount of food (3500+ calories) to gain one pound of weight. The real harm is caused by the ensuing guilt. And that's what we need to address.
- Guilt comes from trying to be best: All dieters make mistakes, and that's completely normal. The occasional binge is not a cause for alarm, less the guilt. Even my most successful clients—who have lost 100+ pounds—had regular lapses. The difference is that they did not see themselves as "perfect" individuals. So they realized they "deserved" to make mistakes occasionally, and so should you. Once you accept that, dieting is much easier for you.
- We need support to make these changes To fix the 3 problems mentioned above, a necessary first step is to get the proper support. It's just as important as choosing the right diet plan, because no matter how good the diet is, it can't motivate you to stay on track - only people can do that. Dieting becomes ten times easier when you get encouragement from others. So when choosing an online weight loss program, choose one with an active platform. Because at the end of the day, it's all about the people. When we are alone/isolated, the smallest obstacle can seem like a mountain. But when we have people behind us, anything can be possible.
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