A woman trying to lose weight (Image: Getty)
Health gurus at Goal Plans by MuscleFood.com have dished out the truth on the blunders that could be sabotaging your slimming efforts, warning against everything from weight gain to potential injuries.
One of the top slip-ups identified is meal skipping, with a spokesperson cautioning: “People who want to decrease their daily calorie intake sometimes resort to skipping meals.”
They elaborated, explaining the pitfalls: “However, because this can lead to extreme hunger, people tend to overeat during their next meal and have more snacks throughout the day. Skipping meals also slows down metabolism.”
Another counterproductive tactic is excessive exercise, which can backfire spectacularly. The experts warned: “Although exercising is an important part of a fitness journey, going too far with it can do more harm than good. Overtraining spikes cortisol levels, making you feel more stressed and making it harder for your body to burn off fat.”
The spokesperson also offered words of encouragement for those not seeing immediate results on the scales: “Don’t get discouraged if you’ve been working out and eating healthy but it doesn’t show on the scales. There are several reasons for weight fluctuations, such as water retention, muscle gain and the weight of undigested food. Taking your measurements and progress pictures are better ways to check for fat loss,” reports the Liverpool Echo.
The rise of social media has seen a surge in the popularity of crash diets, despite evidence suggesting they are both unsustainable and unhealthy. Experts warn: “Crash diets can help you lose weight quickly, but they can also slow down your metabolism. If you eat too few calories, your body adapts by storing them for longer and burning them at a slower rate. Once the diet is over, you will very likely regain the weight.”
While cardio exercises are often linked with weight loss, incorporating weight lifting into your fitness regime is equally important, according to health experts. They advise: “Although cardio may burn more calories per session, weightlifting is great for weight loss because it helps increase the amount of calories burned at rest. “This means that you can burn calories even after working out as your body recovers and repairs muscle tissue.”
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