Are you dieting and dieting - doing everything right - but not losing any weight? Have you hit a weight loss plateau?
You may be sabotaging your weight loss without even knowing it! Ask yourself if you're doing any of these 3 things that might be killing your weight loss efforts:
#1 Not Eating Enough Protein
Protein helps you lose weight in two ways. First it actually speeds your metabolism. This is because protein is metabolically more "expensive" than carbs or fats. Meaning it takes your body more effort (calories) to digest it.
So when you eat protein, more calories are actually burned in the digestive process than you burn with carbs or fats.
Secondly, protein helps to keep you full - and this can also help to keep food cravings at bay. So if you're not eating enough protein you'll be hungrier and end up eating more.
Some people are afraid of protein because they think it's too high calorie. But actually you can find a lot of great, low-calorie protein options. Some of my favorites are eggs (75 calories a pop), chicken breast and whey protein powder.
So make sure you're getting enough protein to keep your metabolism high and your hunger low.
#2 Not Eating In The Morning
Most of us don't like to eat breakfast, I get it. You're just not hungry then.
But metabolically speaking, eating a healthy (high-protein) breakfast is one of the best things you can do to keep your weight loss on track.
This is because your body has been without food all night. So your metabolism has slowed to conserve energy.
When you eat breakfast, your metabolism revs up - and your body then knows that it's time to come out of "stavation" mode. So it kicks things up and gets on expending energy for your day.
But when you skip breakfast, your body stays in that starvation-overnight mode and your metabolism stays at a snail's pace.
So if you want to speed up your metabolism in the morning - eat breakfast. And try to make it a healthy one with enough calories to keep you going throughout the day.
#3 Not Eating Enough In General
Most people who aren't losing weight on their diets feel like they're failing. But actually the opposite it true. They're actually dieting TOO well.
And their bodies are trying their best to keep them alive by slowing their metabolisms.
If you've been cutting calories for a while, your body has probably realized that it's "Danger Will Robinson" time. It doesn't know you want to drop pounds - it just knows you're in starvation mode.
And being the fantastic survival machine that it is, it will slow your metabolism in order to keep you alive. It's also probably producing stress hormones like cortisol that instruct your body to STORE fat.
Ask yourself if you've been dieting too well by keeping your caloric count too low for too long - then make changes accordingly.
Some people like to have a "cheat" day where they can eat anything they want (so the body knows there's an abundance of food). Others like to have a larger breakfast and lunch than usual - then keep their night meal the same.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you're getting enough calories. You also need a wide variety of foods to get the nutrients you need in order to lose weight.
And make sure your diet includes food or treats that you actually like - which will help reduce those stress hormones.
So those are 3 ways you might be unknowingly sabotaging your weight loss. Losing weight should not be so hard. If you're not getting the results you want, it might be time to change things up and try something new. Good luck!
You may be sabotaging your weight loss without even knowing it! Ask yourself if you're doing any of these 3 things that might be killing your weight loss efforts:
#1 Not Eating Enough Protein
Protein helps you lose weight in two ways. First it actually speeds your metabolism. This is because protein is metabolically more "expensive" than carbs or fats. Meaning it takes your body more effort (calories) to digest it.
So when you eat protein, more calories are actually burned in the digestive process than you burn with carbs or fats.
Secondly, protein helps to keep you full - and this can also help to keep food cravings at bay. So if you're not eating enough protein you'll be hungrier and end up eating more.
Some people are afraid of protein because they think it's too high calorie. But actually you can find a lot of great, low-calorie protein options. Some of my favorites are eggs (75 calories a pop), chicken breast and whey protein powder.
So make sure you're getting enough protein to keep your metabolism high and your hunger low.
#2 Not Eating In The Morning
Most of us don't like to eat breakfast, I get it. You're just not hungry then.
But metabolically speaking, eating a healthy (high-protein) breakfast is one of the best things you can do to keep your weight loss on track.
This is because your body has been without food all night. So your metabolism has slowed to conserve energy.
When you eat breakfast, your metabolism revs up - and your body then knows that it's time to come out of "stavation" mode. So it kicks things up and gets on expending energy for your day.
But when you skip breakfast, your body stays in that starvation-overnight mode and your metabolism stays at a snail's pace.
So if you want to speed up your metabolism in the morning - eat breakfast. And try to make it a healthy one with enough calories to keep you going throughout the day.
#3 Not Eating Enough In General
Most people who aren't losing weight on their diets feel like they're failing. But actually the opposite it true. They're actually dieting TOO well.
And their bodies are trying their best to keep them alive by slowing their metabolisms.
If you've been cutting calories for a while, your body has probably realized that it's "Danger Will Robinson" time. It doesn't know you want to drop pounds - it just knows you're in starvation mode.
And being the fantastic survival machine that it is, it will slow your metabolism in order to keep you alive. It's also probably producing stress hormones like cortisol that instruct your body to STORE fat.
Ask yourself if you've been dieting too well by keeping your caloric count too low for too long - then make changes accordingly.
Some people like to have a "cheat" day where they can eat anything they want (so the body knows there's an abundance of food). Others like to have a larger breakfast and lunch than usual - then keep their night meal the same.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you're getting enough calories. You also need a wide variety of foods to get the nutrients you need in order to lose weight.
And make sure your diet includes food or treats that you actually like - which will help reduce those stress hormones.
So those are 3 ways you might be unknowingly sabotaging your weight loss. Losing weight should not be so hard. If you're not getting the results you want, it might be time to change things up and try something new. Good luck!
Tired of dieting the hard way? Sick of counting calories, carbs or fat grams? Why not let the professionals do it for you?
Click here to learn about a service that will make delicious, gourmet meals for you that will take off pounds quickly and easily for under $20 a day!
Or visit my website for a list of diet delivery services that help you lose weight in the privacy of your own home - guaranteed!
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Johnston
Click here to learn about a service that will make delicious, gourmet meals for you that will take off pounds quickly and easily for under $20 a day!
Or visit my website for a list of diet delivery services that help you lose weight in the privacy of your own home - guaranteed!
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