Are you making these dieting mistakes?

I’m often contacted by many people who have been trying to lose weight for years but don’t seeing the expected results. They get frustrated, since despite exercising and eating healthily the scales don’t change. But once they get started on my program, they see changes.

This is what a client said after my program:

Dropped two dress sizes and lost 10 kilos
“I went to Sujata after trying everything that I could think of. I was having no luck losing any weight and whatever I lost used to come back quickly. After the first few meetings I started getting more confident. Sujata’s recipes are my favourite bit of the whole programme. They are very simple, easy and delicious too. Together with the recipes Sujata integrated exercise and built this up gently. Yes, I have achieved my goal to lose 10 kilos, 2 dress sizes and so much belly fat. I miss our meetings and health talks and think about her a few times a day – when eating, working out, shopping for my new wardrobe and when I get compliments. I love the new me, I love my new eating habits, the awareness that Sujata has brought not only to me but to my entire family. I have recommended her highly to all my friends” PJ

And if you are wondering how she got to her goals, I am going to tell you five things that she stopped doing. Read on to see if you `are making these common dieting mistakes:

1. Doing restrictive diets

Have you tried any of these types of programs: no sugar, low carb, grain free, calorie counting, juice cleanse, keto, etc.?

Many decide to do something that is so different to their normal ways of eating, like following extreme diets which ask them to stop eating their favourite foods, like cakes, cookies or chocolate. What happens, is that this only results in craving them more and once the diet is over, you overindulge and put the weight right back on. Instead, find a healthy balance where you can have your treats guilt free.

2. Eating differently to your family

Don’t follow programs that tell you to avoid your traditional meals; this is what you are accustomed to and enjoy eating as your comfort foods. Most importantly, you want to eat with your family and not have meal replacement shakes or “diet foods”. And from a practical perspective, it’s impossible to cook separate meals long term as is time consuming. Instead, learn how to make better choices when eating traditional meals.

3. Doing too much too quickly

I get that you are motivated and want to lose weight ASAP to look good. But don’t make the mistake of diving into the deep end, wanting to do everything immediately. For instance, it can be difficult to transition to having smoothies for breakfast, salads for lunch and exercising five times a week. So then, it becomes overwhelming as you just can’t keep up and give up. Instead, take baby steps and build up slowly which is what I guide my clients to do. And this way you create healthy habits at a pace that works for you.

4. Having unrealistic expectations

The weight was gained over months or years, so be patient with yourself. Many give up too quickly, when they see no change on the weighing scales. Don’t allow the scales to define your success. It will take time and, in the meantime, look at other measures such as how your clothes fit, your body fat, etc. I also encourage you to consider what your energy levels are, how you feel, if your digestion has improved, etc.

5. Eating too many treats

Many are overindulging in not just processed foods but also healthy treats such as nuts, fruits, smoothies, etc. You may not even realise what you are really eating, as do it when passing through the kitchen or pantry. Begin to track what and when you are eating. You can still have treats, but don’t overdo these.

These are just five common mistakes and there are so many more. I recommend that you ditch the dieting mindset, as this often causes either being stuck or even causes weight gain. Instead focus on creating a healthier balanced happy lifestyle. It would be far better to lose the weight gradually and create healthy habits rather than lose the weight quickly and regain it back quickly.