Some common mistakes when you are dieting!!

"Mistakes" may be a bit of a harsh word to describe this entry. When you are losing weight, we try and do whatever we can do reach our goals. And I talk from my own experiences around weight loss. And this can be seriously affected by mental health.

But there are some "tricks" than can backfire. Let's have a look at a few.

Skipping Meals
This can work for some. There is the 5:2 diet for example (five days eating normally, two days of fasting), or the 16:8 diet (where you only eat in an eight hour window during the day, and do not touch food in the other sixteen). I have known people to lose weight on both.
If you find a regime that works for you, then great, but the most important thing here is consistency and good planning.
A lot of people do not do this. They may skip a meal - say breakfast - and think that as they have not taken in any calories this will help them lose weight. In fact, what it does is make them feel more hungry later, and what tends to happen is they then use more higher calorie foods to compensate.

Choosing Low-Fat foods
Again, this is not necessarily a bad thing, per se. But it does matter which foods you choose to change.
Fat has had a bad reputation when it comes to losing weight, but in fact it is an essential part of our diet. It has a lot of very important jobs, including hormone production, as well as helping our bodies absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E and K.
What matters is the type of fat you are ingesting. Swap out ones from processed foods and sugar-laden foods and opt for foods containing healthy fats - such as oily fish, avocado and nuts.
Be aware that a lot of foods that are sold as "low-fat" often have artificial ingredients or added sugar. Yoghurts are a prime example.
But do not get too hung up on all this. It's about consistency and maintaining a good healthy nutrition regime. If you have the "bad fats" some times - trans fats for example in cakes, biscuits etc. - do not punish yourself after. Enjoy that slice of cheesecake, and then get back on track.

Not all calories are equal
We are not saying it is a bad thing to count calories. In fact it is a useful guide. But be aware that it also depends on the actual food and drink you are digesting. You could eat four mars bars a day and count calories. But you would not be getting the right nutrients and protein/carbs etc.
Think about the make up of your meals and what your body needs in order to stay healthy. Protein, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Fats, Sugars etc. Have quality foods with plenty of vegetables and some fruit. Try and stay away from processed foods.
You will lose weight if you are in calorie deficit, of course. But it is important to stay healthy while you are reaching for your targets.

Remember Fibre
Carbohydrates, along with fat earlier, get a bad press when we are losing weight. In some ways this is understandable. The carbs turn to sugars in our bodies, and too much sugar can lead to weight gain. But don't forget a couple of things. Firstly, your brain's fuel is glucose. It will not function properly without it.  Secondly, carbohydrates include fibre. Fresh vegetables are an excellent source of fibre, and this can actually help us feel full.
Dietary fibre is essential for us. It helps with our digestive health and regular bowel movements. It can improve your cholesterol levels, as well as blood sugar levels. It is also known to assist in preventing some diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer.

Think about drinks too
When we want to lose weight we tend to concentrate heavily on our food content, but not so much on what we are drinking.
Weight gain can come about through hidden sugars, and many drinks are high in sugar content, especially fizzy drinks and alcohol.  So think about what you are currently consuming each day and consider low-sugar swaps to improve the content.
The "bad" stuff can include your coffee-shop drinks, canned fizzy pop, and alcohol. But you can find low-sugar versions of these.

HMHB says:
As mentioned earlier, Lazza knows all about the struggles to lose weight. If you have your mental side sorted - and if not, please seek help as there is considerable assistance our there, and until you do you will always find excuses for weight gain - then look at your diet and behaviour. Changes do not have to be forever. Reach your goals first. The best way to lose weight is to eat healthier, regulate portion sizes, look at healthy snacks, and exercise more. Good luck!!