Ditch These Bad Habits for Successful Weight Loss
By Rachel Carver
A desire to lose weight usually leads to goals and plans to accomplish those goals. However, some bad habits can unintentionally derail our weight loss journey.
From getting proper sleep to prioritizing mental health, many bad habits can prevent the decrease of your scale number. Read on to learn about some of these bad habits and solutions to fix them.
Skimping on Breakfast
Research on the importance of breakfast has taken several positions over the years. However, eating too little for breakfast can stall your weight loss efforts. Not consuming enough protein at breakfast keeps your body from replacing protein broken down while you sleep. Skipping breakfast protein too often can leave you with a sluggish metabolism, which influences how many daily calories you burn.
You need more than a piece of fruit or a packaged muffin to start your day. Incorporating 20-30 grams of protein into breakfast will give you more energy, improve your mood, and make you less likely to reach for a sugary or salty snack later. Start your morning with items such as boiled eggs, cottage cheese, or an overnight oat recipe.
Lacking Magnesium
Sleep is an important part of successful weight loss. Poor sleep messes with your hunger hormones, making you more likely to reach for a sugary snack more often.
In addition to good bedtime habits, magnesium levels affect your sleep. Not consuming enough of this mineral can disrupt your sleep. Foods such as almonds, leafy greens, and tofu contain high amounts of magnesium.
Letting Guilt Consume You
So you just indulged in a brownie or ice cream and feel bad about it. Relax and try not to let the guilt rule your day. One food will not result in weight gain.
Telling yourself you blew it and that you will start over tomorrow can cause you to overeat. Instead, focus on eating good food most of the time. Let yourself enjoy some indulgences without guilt. Focusing on the bigger picture will help you create a sustainable diet.
Exercising Only to Burn Calories
A workout can increase your appetite, causing you to eat more than you intended. While exercising is important for weight loss, it is also important for your overall health.
If you are only working out to balance the food you just ate, you will not succeed. Find an exercise you enjoy. Maybe you like nature hikes or swimming. Maybe you enjoy fitness classes with others. The key is to find a physical activity that you will stick with. This will help you shed pounds and improve your health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.