5 Fat Loss Mistakes You Might Be Making

The internet can be useful, there’s no denying it. Those fun DIY tricks and videos that can help you learn a new skill-set are pretty awesome indeed! But everything in this world has a downside and sadly, the internet has one too! While the internet helps you discover new things every day, it also leads you to fake news, tips and ‘hacks’ for instance – Quick Fat Loss Tips or Lose Fat in 10 days.

While there is no shortage of news that can lead you astray, you need to understand that there is no shortcut to fat loss and losing weight! Let’s bust some myths and check out some mistakes you might be making on your journey to fat loss!

1. Starving for Fat Loss 

Research indicates that chronic starvation reduces muscle mass and organ size by 20%. Weight loss via starvation decreases bone density and makes you more prone to injury. Along with this, starvation leads to a reduction in metabolic rate and your body functions slower. Also, post this eating phase, once you return to normal eating, you will gain all the fat back as the body starts storing extra calories as fat. So the rule of thumb is to eat healthy, balanced meals on time.

2. No Rest Day 

Are you thinking that if you over-train, you are losing more fat? The answer is NO! Rest days are important to prevent overuse of muscles and allow the body to recover. Lifting weights creates tiny tears in your muscles which repair only during rest. Your lean muscles actually grow when you rest. Overtraining can cause a plateau in your fat loss process. It can mess with your menstrual cycle and cause Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation i.e. 2-3 missed menstrual periods). Ideally, you can rest 1 day per week and do very light activities like slow walking, yoga, breathing exercises, etc.

3. Excess Protein Doesn’t Mean Better Fat Loss

Excess of anything is bad. Eating more protein can definitely help you lose weight but a high protein diet alone cannot. Protein can make you feel full for longer and helps in reducing overall calorie intake. Excess protein makes it difficult for the body to digest it. You need enough fruits, vegetables and complex carbs too for losing fat.

4. Lack of Optimum Sleep

Research indicates that sleeping fewer than 6hrs reduces hormone leptin and stimulates hormone ghrelin which makes you feel hungrier and less satiated. It is documented that dieters with enough sleep of 7 or more hours lose more fat and less muscle. To add on, inadequate sleep raises your cortisol (stress hormone) levels and it actually inhibits the breakdown of fat for energy and increases muscle breakdown. So if you are someone who sleeps late and wakes up early to exercise without completing optimum sleeping hours, it might not be the best idea!

5. Keeping Unrealistic Expectations

Definitely tangible goals can keep you motivated but having unrealistic expectations can work against you. It is reported that overweight and obese women who expect to lose more fat in a short amount of time are most likely to drop out of a health program after 6-12 months due to frustration. Make your goals more modest with the help of a certified health coach.

To get the right information on exercise and nutrition for fat loss, speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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