10 Unhealthy Habits That Prevent Weight Loss
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We all know that the path to weight loss involves a balanced diet and regular exercise.
But what if your scale isn’t budging despite your best efforts?
Could something else be going on?
Indeed, it could be!
Hidden in our daily routines are sneaky habits that prevent weight loss.
And while they may seem benign at first, they could actually be the culprits holding back our weight loss progress.
In this article, I am going to lift the veil off these stealthy weight loss barriers that sometimes go unnoticed.
We’ll explore how they subtly disrupt our weight loss journey and cause frustrating slow-downs in progress.
So grab a cup of your favorite healthy brew, settle in, and let’s dive into unmasking those unhelpful habits that prevent weight loss.
10 Habits That Prevent Weight Loss
1. Eating in front of the TV
Watching TV and eating at the same time has been associated with higher calorie consumption.
This happens because you basically trance out in front of the tube and end up overeating without realizing it.
To lose weight successfully, you should either skip TV eating completely or make a compromise and at least choose healthier foods whenever you want to eat and watch TV at the same time.
2. Not getting enough sleep
Skimping on quality sleep is one of the worst habits that prevent weight loss.
If you don’t get enough sleep, it can make you feel hungry even if you are full, thanks to hormonal changes that happen in our body when we don’t get enough eye shutter.
Studies have also shown that regular insomnia can increase fat storage in your body, which can also hinder your weight loss efforts.
3. Shopping when you’re hungry
It’s best to avoid shopping when you are hungry because you are more likely to end up buying a ton of calorie-rich foods.
The math behind this is simple – whenever you’re hungry, your brain can drive you crazy with all the cravings, because it wants you to consume something as soon as possible, and “it better be really rich in nutrients!”.
To prevent mindless hunger shopping, eat something filling and healthy before you go into the grocery store, and carry a shopping list.
4. Consuming too much alcohol
Alcoholic beverages contain enormous amounts of calories.
It’s okay to have a drink once in a while, even if you’re on a diet…
But if you want to get rid of habits that prevent weight loss and improve your overall health, this is a good place to start.
Think about the calories before you start and try to limit yourself to one or two drinks.
Ideally, you should quit drinking entirely.
5. Drinking sugary drinks
This goes hand in hand with the above point.
People who are overweight are sometimes in the habit of drinking sugary, fizzy drinks.
These drinks contain massive amounts of calories and are especially bad for our bodies.
To lose weight quicker, it’s best to consume regular water instead!
If you can’t quit sodas cold turkey, try to at least use a smaller cup in the meantime.
6. Eating low-fat foods
The unfortunate truth about “low-fat foods” is that they’re not very good for you.
These foods usually contain sugars and chemicals that can improve their taste but they also can be a lot worse than fat.
Empty sugars digest faster which will leave you hungry and wanting to eat more, and various food additives can leave your body confused about what to do with them.
Stick to healthy, whole foods, and don’t shy away from full-fat foods – the key is to control how much of it you eat anyway.
7. Skipping meals
This is one of the worst habits that prevent weight loss, even though it might feel like the right idea when trying to lose weight faster.
Skipping meals makes your metabolism slow down, and might lead to overeating episodes later in the day.
While it’s important to create a calorie deficit to lose weight, skipping meals and suffering through hunger will only make everything worse.
8. Eating too quickly
When you eat quickly, you eat more, and it takes longer for your body to register that you are already full.
Try to slow down, eat mindfully and savor your food.
Each meal should take you at least 20 minutes to get through.
You can slow down your eating by taking smaller bites, chewing your food for longer, and putting your fork down after every bite.
9. Eating fast food and processed food
These types of foods contain huge amounts of salt, calories, and sugar – all the bad boys that interrupt our weight loss process.
Eating them will keep you overweight and negatively affect your health.
To lose weight faster and improve your health, strive to eat less fast food or cut these foods out of your life entirely.
P.S.
I have learned a lot about eating a clean, healthy diet from this wonderful book written by Gwyneth Paltrow and I really recommend it for anyone who wants to clean up their diet (either for health, weight loss, or mental health reasons).
The Clean Plate: Eat, Reset, Heal
10. Eating too many carbs
Consuming too many carbs is also one of the habits that prevent weight loss.
Of course, not all carbs are equal, and I’m mostly referring to empty carbs here (think white bread, toast, bagels, cookies, chips, and white rice).
But good carbs (the ones found in fruits and wholegrain products), if consumed in large amounts, can also be unhelpful for weight loss.
Healthy carbs are essential for our health, so it’s best to simply eat a conscious, balanced diet that has all food groups included in their recommended ratios.
This way, you’ll consume enough carbs, protein, and fat without consuming too much of any of them.
Conclusion
Shedding unwanted weight necessitates not just a shift in diet and physical activity, but also a reevaluation of our habits.
Habits that prevent weight loss, such as tv snacking, skipping meals, excessive alcohol consumption, eating too quickly, or getting insufficient sleep, create an environment in our bodies that makes it challenging to lose weight and maintain weight loss.
These habits often contribute to a cycle of unhealthy eating and lack of exercise, leading to a caloric surplus, which ultimately results in weight gain.
Furthermore, these habits can lead to metabolic changes and hormone imbalances, which can further complicate weight loss efforts.
Quitting habits that prevent weight loss is important not just for weight loss, but also for your overall health.
Start with one or two from this list and gradually get rid of other bad habits you notice in your life.
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