Habits that Defeat Diets

Trying to lose weight and live a healthier life?  These days who isn’t?

But often people find that their weight loss attempts are not panning out.  If you’re trying to shed pounds but you’re finding it more difficult than you thought it would be, you might be participating in some unhealthy habits that are giving your pounds their staying power.

According to registered dietitian Frances Largeman there are seven habits that many people fall prey to that keep them from losing weight:

Not eating breakfast.  You’ve heard it before, but people who eat breakfast are generally thinner than those who skip.  Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight.  In fact, according to many studies, it will actually help you gain weight.

Eating when you’re distracted. People who eat while engaged in other activities often overeat.  That means you shouldn’t eat at your desk, in your car or while you’re watching television.

Not counting calories. If you aren’t paying attention to proportion with foods like pasta or burritos, the calories can add up quickly.  Drinks can also be high calorie traps – soft drinks can add 180 to 240 calories to your meal.  And smoothies, though made from healthy ingredients, can pack on the calories as well.

Not instituting a regular exercise program. Merely cutting back on calories is not likely to do the job.  You might lose weight in the beginning by merely dieting, but it will be hard to keep off and maintain your new weight without exercising.

Snacking.  Lots of people stick to their diets during meal times, but then go off track when they’re watching television and break out the chips and ice cream.  One solution:  Keep healthy snacks like baby carrots and yogurt on hand.

The no-fat dilemma. If you reduce your fat intake too much, you also reduce your satisfaction level and might become more prone to indulging in too many low-fat, high-calorie snacks.

Cheers.  Alcohol is loaded with calories.  If you partake of alcohol, you'll want to keep your limit to one or two drinks per occasion.  And you’ll be better off avoiding sugary, tropical and frozen drinks.