Top 5 will NOT's of weight loss

We are always hearing of simple lists of the top things you should do if you want to loose weight, well I have decided to reverse that up and put up my Top 5 Things You Should Not Do if You Want to Loose Weight!

This is by no means a comprehensive list, just a couple of points to kick start your weigh loss and get you seeing results!

1. Starve myself in the hope I will loose weight. Cutting your calorie intake down to a very low level will of course make you loose weight, however this is at the expense of your overall health. Your body needs calories to survive and keep all those vital systems that keep us alive running. Avoid extreme low calorie diets or you will literally start starving yourself! From my experience this method of weight control is never lasting and your body just gets better at using the few calories you do take on more effectively, by slowing down your metabolism.

2. Pills and Potions. There are so many pills and potions out there that are claiming to be the magic weight loss pill that will make it so you don't have to do any work. Just pop one, two, three... A day and you will get the results you want. Well since when have you been able to get anything worth having with little or no work? Most of these pills and potions are based on very shaky science and have not had long term studies done on them! Remember if it seems too good to be true it probably is!

3. Expensive Weight Loss Plan. Most people do not need to be told how to loose weight, they know the difference, even if it only on a basic level between what is good for them and what is not. Most people actually come to a Personal Trainer or Nutritionist for help with avoiding the bad and sticking to the good rather than deciding between the two. Teh exception to this is that people oftern come to me seeking advice on many of the weight loss and deitary plans out there and if they are effective (the subject of a future blog post)! In my opinion unless you have a very specifc dietary need or goal you can make great dietary improvements without paying out vast sums for expensive one size fits all diet plans. These can they be tweeked as needed by the use of a well qualified Personal Trainer or Nutritionist.

4. Aiming for extremly rapid weight loss. Most weight loss plans advocate crazy and unsafe methods that lead to rapid weight loss. These diets oftern have massive wellbeing and health side effects and are not sustainable. The people who make lasting changes put in place systems and habits that are long term, they can keep them up and not get into the dieting cycle. Just remember some weeks will be better than others, but with hard work expect to loose about 2 pounds a week.

5. Ignore the benefits of exercis. Do not ignore the vast benefits of exercise and physical activity. Exercise is a vital accompneyment to dietary changes and achieveing long term weight loss. Make sure you implement a plan that sees you doing a minimum of 3 hours exercise a week and pushing up your daily physical activity levels wherever possible.

Many people do not go about trying to achieve weight loss in the right manner, part of our quick fix society is that we want everything now with little or no work. SAFE weight loss can not be done in this way. It takes work and alot of it! But if you want REULTS then that is what you need to do!

TOM

Tom Godwin BA(Hons), MDip PT, Dip ST, Dip SP
Managing Director / Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Manchester, UK)
Personal Trainer Blog
Personal Training in Manchester (Foresight Personal Training Website)
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