Weight Loss Mistakes: Some of the Most Common Errors

Trying to lose weight quickly can lead to errors that you'll end up paying for down the road. In order to avoid weight loss mistakes, you'll need to carefully plan your diet and workout.
Weight Loss Mistakes: Some of the Most Common Errors

Last update: 09 November, 2019

Making the effort to lose weight is often considered to be difficult and unpleasant, especially for those expecting immediate or miraculous results. It’s thanks to these unrealistic expectations that the need for proper planning is ignored. This is how weight loss mistakes can happen.

In a world where obesity is a widespread health issue, many people have chosen to adopt healthier lifestyles, opting for foods rich in essential nutrients, while avoiding processed products.

Remember that when implementing a diet, there are elements that cannot be ignored. These include healthy fats and calories.

Meanwhile, many companies have profited from our obsession with losing weight. This is why the market is packed with supplements supposedly designed to help customers lose the extra pounds without any effort.

Unhappy woman and scale

There are no shortcuts when it comes to achieving a healthy body. A balanced diet and physical activity are absolutely essential. Many weight loss mistakes stem from denying this fundamental truth.

Weight loss mistakes: starving yourself is a common error

Skipping meals and going hungry is among the most serious mistakes that you can make. The effect is often the exact opposite of the desired goal.

The stomach digests, whether it contains food or not. If there’s nothing to digest, then stomach acids will start work on the organ’s walls.

If the body doesn’t replace the nutrients it needs when it needs them, it will declare itself to be in a state of emergency and slow down the metabolism.

The result is that once you consume proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, the body will start to store these elements as deposits. This can lead to dramatic weight gain.

Eliminating carbohydrates

Carbohydrates represent the human organism’s primary source of energy. To eliminate them completely from your diet is a bad idea, one that can have catastrophic consequences.

In any case, we recommend that you consume most of your carbohydrates during breakfast so that the body has the whole day to burn them off.

Abusing diet products

This is one of the most common weight loss mistakes that people make. There are people who believe that choosing diet or light products will completely eliminate excessive amounts of sugar found in soft drinks, desserts, and other unhealthy foods.

Firstly, these products’ claims are often fraudulent. Secondly, their excessive consumption can have a negative effect on the proper functioning of your body.

Woman holding water and diet pills

Failing to hydrate

Some people actually believe that water leads to weight gain, given the concerns surrounding water retention. In reality, the opposite is true. This vital liquid facilitates digestion and the proper use of all the nutrients you consume. It also stimulates your metabolism.

Only dieting

Another myth: losing weight exclusively through dieting! Without exercise, a perfectly balanced diet, and proper hydration, weight loss is nothing more than a pipe dream.

You need physical activity in order to burn fat, strengthen and tone muscles, improve your endurance, and optimize your lung capacity, among many other considerations.

Just cardio

If your goal is to burn the excess fat that accumulates between your muscle tissues, cardio routines won’t be enough. Running or jogging, riding a bike, and skating is highly beneficial to the body in general and for losing weight in particular.

However, you also need to perform exercises designed to increase endurance. This combination will increase the number of calories you’ll be able to burn during each workout.

Woman on treadmill

Not eating enough protein

The three essential macronutrients have a bad reputation among weight loss enthusiasts. While you need to keep your protein consumption under control, especially when you don’t work out regularly, eliminating them completely is a big mistake.

Remember, your muscle tissues and immune system depend on proteins. In addition, they serve as another source of energy for the body.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.