3 Common Fat Loss Mistakes

When trying to lose weight, many of us run into the same pitfalls. We think we’re doing everything right but it doesn’t show us on the scales. So why would this be? Well, it could be one or several of the following:

1- Not watching their calories: The single most important thing you must do when trying to lose weight is to track your calories. Although measuring your macros isn’t the be-all and end-all it’s still very important, particularly for fat loss. The equation is simple; the energy you intake must be less than the energy you expend. Simple! When people don’t measure their portion sizes it leaves them vulnerable to over-eating. You hear things like “I eat clean but I can’t lose the weight”. What people don’t realise is that it’s possible to eat too much healthy food too, particularly if the goal is to lose weight. 

2- Diets that aren’t maintainable: So many people want a quick-fix diet that’ll make them shed weight over a short period of time. These diets usually require people to take up extreme eating habits. These habits can be so extreme that they are just not sustainable over a long period of time. There are more fad diets now than ever and many of them can work for the first few weeks, but when you inevitably fall off the wagon your results will eventually reverse also. Now that’s not to say that certain diets are unsustainable for everybody. For instance, the Ketogenic diet (low carb, high fat & protein) might seem extreme to some but may suit others down to the ground. And for those that it does suit it’s sure to get them results as long as they can maintain it. It’s all about finding the right diet for YOU!

3- Concentrating on cardio over strength training: Cardio is a big calorie burner. A bigger calorie burner than strength training, in fact. Unfortunately, this can make people focus too much on cardio and neglect resistance training. When the main focus is weight loss cardio can be very important, but studies have shown that concurrent training (cardio & resistance) can be more effective for fat loss when timed properly. Working the muscle aerobically & anaerobically will elicit the best results as long as you’re in a calorie deficit.