When you’re striving towards your weight loss goal, every little thing matters. While you may think you’re doing everything you need to, you might still not be seeing the results that you want. If so, there’s a reason. Lots of habits that people think are supporting their weight loss, are, in reality, working against you. Don’t feel frustrated, we’re here to break down all these pesky habits so that you can correct them and get to your perfect body.
Major Changes to Portions Size
When you’re trying to cut down on your weight, you’ve probably rightly realized that you’ve been eating too much. A common mistake, however, is to dramatically cut down on your portions. This is an understandable mistake.
Cutting down on your portions significantly right off the bat will leave you hungry. This results in snacking, which we all know will just add extra calories to your diet. The better alternative is to slowly reduce your portion size over time. Balancing your meals out with the proper ratios of protein, carbs, and vegetables will help you feel full off of less and makes the transition to smaller portions easier.
The Trap of Low-Fat Foods
Low-fat foods directly appeal to the idea that fats are bad. In reality, fat is good. That is, as long as it’s the right kind of fat. Trans fats are what you’re trying to avoid, not fat in general. Low-fat foods rarely make the distinction. Worse, low-fat foods have a nasty secret.
Low-fat foods keep their foods tasting good by replacing that fat with things like salt and sugar. These wreak havoc on your health and are just as bad for you as the fats you’re trying to avoid. Stick to all-natural low-fat foods rather than opting for foods specifically advertised this way.
Sugar Substitutes
Sugar is usually one of those things that are best to cut down on. That’s why sugar-free products are especially appealing and especially dangerous. These products replace sugar with sweetening alternatives. In the short-term, these might cut calories, but in the long run, is where the problems come in.
With artificial sweeteners, your risk for diabetes, heart problems, and fat gain actually increase. Researchers believe that this happens for two main reasons. First, these sweeteners actually increase your cravings, causing you to eat more. Second, these products are often just as unhealthy as the foods or drinks they come from, fooling you into thinking you’re making the healthy choice.
Weight loss can seem challenging. In reality, most of the success in weight loss comes down to understanding what habits you have that are holding you back from your perfect body. Realizing that some of those habits, you might have mistaken for good ones. Know that you’re in the know, it’s time to come into BeLite Medical Center and see the pounds drop off for good!
BeLite can help patients translate emerging obesity-medicine evidence into an individualized plan that considers efficacy, tolerability, nutrition, muscle preservation, long-term maintenance, and access.BeLite Medical Center has provided physician-supervised medical weight management in Fairfax, Virginia since 1995. Our clinic offers in-person medical supervision — with the ability to adjust medications and monitor your progress in real time — that fully virtual services cannot match.Booking appointments is simple with our online scheduling portal, available 24/7. You can also call or text us at (703) 359-9200, or email belitemed@gmail.com. We offer free consultations for new patients — if you choose not to enroll, there is no charge. We serve patients across Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., the DMV area, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Patients do not sign treatment contracts and can stop coming at any time
Medical Disclaimer
This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not intended to substitute for consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Readers should not use this information to diagnose or treat a medical or health condition without consulting an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Any reliance on the information in this blog is at the readers own risk. Individual weight loss results vary based on personal health status and adherence to medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is created by accessing or reading this content.
Reviewed by Richard Rothman, MD, PhD — Medical Director, BeLite Medical Center.
About Richard B Rothman MD, PhD, Medical Director, BeLite Medical Center
Dr. Rothman is the Medical Director of BeLite Medical Center, which has been helping patients lose weight in the Northern Virginia area since 1996. Board certified in Psychiatry, Dr. Rothman earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Virginia in 1982.
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Comments
This blog is definitely helpful and informative. Great blog by the way and thanks for sharing these!
Thank you!