Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is quite easier said than done. While everything may seem to revolve around maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, avoiding packaged foods, and drinking loads of water, is it so simple? Though many individuals follow the precise routine mentioned above, certainly doing more than that, they end up with no visible results. Why do you think it is that?
The answer lies in the small and everyday self-sabotaging things that one does during their diet without acknowledging the harm.
For example, consider this, you are sick, and the doctor prescribed you two medicines, one of which is to be taken before the meal and another one after the meal. Well, you just got confused and switched the time for the two medicines. How do you think that will affect your health? Well, not only will you witness slow recovery but also additional health issues, including stomach irritation, etc.
Concluding the example above, though mixing up medicine might seem a minor mistake, its effect is not quite so. The same is the case when a person is on a diet. Small things that you might be doing wrong can put all your efforts to waste if they do not already make your diet results worse.
The following article discusses the exact mistakes and habits everyone must be aware of along with ways to tackle them –
Contents
Proper Sleep Routine; Not More Or Less
Everyone knows how essential getting the right amount of sleep every night is, but it is not just to avoid getting dark circles or stress but also to guard your dieting routine. A sleep-deprived person tends to eat as much as 550 more calories in a day than those who had their proper sleeping hours in check. It is because sleep deprivation causes a hike in a person’s food consumption.
Similarly, when a person sleeps more, they miss out on the proper mealtime, not to mention the effect having more sleep has on appetite and cravings. All in all, your sleep routine and diet go hand in hand; therefore, a person must maintain at least 8 to 9 hours of a sound sleep routine every night for a healthy weight.
Easing Up On Portion Estimation Can Cause Overeating
It is relatively easy to relax the weight loss plan once routine starts falling in place with weight loss and other visible health results. However, it is precisely the moment everything you have achieved so far starts recoiling. Easing up on your total calorie intake happens to be one of the significant role players in getting you back to where you started.
You might not even be eating junk food that is high in calories, rather just too large of a portion of the healthy regular diet food, something that’s enough to push you back. Therefore it becomes imperative to track your calories no matter how healthy everything may seem.
Consuming Too Few Calories Per Day
It is a common misconception that eating a few calories will help one lose weight quickly and easily. However, to most’s surprise, the fact is drastically contrasting from reality.
I was eating less than the number of calories the diet requires can leave them with a constant feeling of hunger, leading to either binge eating or a complete loss of determination, resulting in giving up on the diet plan altogether.
If even the above-mentioned does not seem like a problem, know that drastic reduction in calories intake also meddles with your metabolism, causing a slow calorie burn rate. When a person consumes less, their body automatically shifts into starvation mode, which then starts conserving energy and not burning.
Eating Too Fast And Skipping Breakfast
Skipping breakfast for many is customary, be it the early work schedule or lack of habit of eating early. Whatever the reason may be, and however insignificant it may seem, to skip breakfast, which is also considered the most important meal of the day, is not a way to a healthy lifestyle.
When a person skips breakfast, they tend to be more hungry during lunchtime and eat more. The studies show that consuming the same number of calories during lunch is less helpful than when you divide it among breakfast. Instead, a heavy breakfast makes for an ideal start of the day, with energy and vigor.
Similarly, why do you think one is always advised to eat slow? It is not only because eating fast does not give you enough time to chew the food, but also because eating short delays the signal your body sends to your brain of being full, resulting in overeating. Mindful and slow eating is a great way to cut out on any extra calories.
Unrealistic Restrictions And Overlooking Liquid Calories
It is good to have goals and a period for achieving them as it develops determination, but overdoing the same with bizarre restrictions can derail you from the track. Healthy eating and lifestyle do not necessarily mean giving up on things you love and enjoy. Instead, balance and sustainable plans keep a person following a healthy lifestyle in the long run.
At the same time, not being wary of what you consume in terms of drinks can also bring unfavorable results, especially sugary drinks and alcohol. Therefore, always note the serving size and calories using calorie counters when consuming something market-bought.
CONCLUSION
A healthy lifestyle is not synonymous with plant-based home cooking, nor does it mean entirely giving up on the packaged foods. Instead, the actual healthy weight is defined by several teeny factors, including the physical activity a person does, calories they burn, how consciously they maintain daily calorie intake, their fight with midnight cravings, etc.
Taking note of your daily habits and routine can help more than holding back through significant restrictions and result expectations. Happy Scrolling!