When it comes to weight loss, there is a lot more to the equation than the calories we burn. We need to consider the calories we actually consume. In a recent study, it was confirmed that there are more gyms and fitness studios in 2018 than ever before, yet the obesity epidemic is alarmingly on the rise. It’s obvious Americans are exercising. But why aren’t we losing weight? What are our weight loss mistakes?
Food is Everything. Exercise is extra cedit.
Our weight is determined by what we feed ourselves, not how much we are willing to sweat. We can control what we eat, but there is a limit to how much our bodies can burn during a workout. Marketing tricks us into thinking that exercising to excess will help us achieve our weight loss goals. Don’t get me wrong, exercise matters! Working out is about building muscle strength, promoting overall health, tightening and toning, but it’s not supposed to be done so we can eat whatever foods we crave. Bottom line our weight loss is determined by 80% diet and 20% exercise. Eat for your weight, and workout to stay healthy. Nutrition is the gateway to weight loss and the way to avoid weight loss mistakes.
What Can We Do?
Ditch the diet mentality. As I started making changes to my daily habits, I started focusing how certain foods were making me feel. Was I getting energy? Did I feel satisfied, not stuffed? Did I really “want” to eat that treat or did I feel like I “earned it?” Understanding our relationship with food, and our habits is one of the first steps to healthy weight loss. When I started being more aware of my habits and my triggers, I became more aware of my habits. I also started to see changed in my skin, my digestion, and overall weight. We can still allow ourselves to eat the foods that we enjoy because deprivation often leads to sabotage. We can eat foods that we enjoy, but let’s remind ourselves that food is meant to make us feel good, not feel rewarded!
Shift the focus, nutrition first for weight loss, and exercise for overall health!
