Globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are considered overweight.

Because there are so many myths about weight loss, for most people, it’s not as easy as cutting out foods and exercising more.

Losing weight and maintaining weight is a lifelong journey, though it is often not seen that way. To do it the right way, you must first learn common weight loss errors, so you can do your best to avoid making them.

Read on to get started.

1. Focusing on the Scale

If you stand on the scale every day hoping for a lower number to pop up, you’re in for some bad news.

The scale will show your body’s current weight, including any water or food you had that day, so your weight can fluctuate between two and three pounds every day.

So, if you just did a really hard workout and stand on the scale only to see that you gained two pounds, this may decrease your motivation.

This doesn’t mean that you aren’t making progress. The scale only shows one tiny part of the picture.

Your body may retain more water, which can cause the number on the scale to go up. You may also be gaining muscle mass, which can also make the number increase.

You are probably making great gains towards your weight loss goals, so it’s best to avoid the scale, stepping on it once a week at most.

2. Skipping Meals

If you are attempting to lose weight, then you probably already know you have to have a calorie deficit to do so. Because of this, many people think that skipping a meal or two throughout the day is an easy way to reduce your calorie intake.

In actuality, this can slow down your metabolism, as your body goes into survival mode and starts to store away the food that you do eat instead of breaking it down. This will also cause your body to have more intense food cravings.

When you skip meals, you are also much more likely to snack throughout the day or eat more during your other meals. This means you aren’t really reducing your calorie intake at all. You may actually be increasing it.

Instead of doing this, it’s best to create a well-balanced daily meal plan that works for your calorie goals.

3. Exercising Excessively

When learning how to start healthy habits, you’ll find that diet and exercise are always at the top of the list.

However, just as you shouldn’t skip meals, you also shouldn’t exercise too much. If you are trying to lose weight fast, you’ll be tempted to do an intense exercise regimen that promises to burn all those calories.

Yet, this can cause you to burn out fast, and it can also cause serious injuries. The key to a successful weekly workout schedule is consistency.

Thirty minutes of walking every day can make an even bigger impact than doing intense workouts once or twice a week. Exercise in ways that make the most sense to you and that you know you can keep up with.

Avoid Making Common Weight Loss Errors With This Guide

Now that you know the most common weight loss errors, you can start getting healthy the right way. Because there are so many misconceptions about losing weight, it can be difficult to get started.

With this guide, you’re already halfway there.

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