by Andi S Green.

Created on: April 24, 2010   Last Updated: April 25, 2010

Top 10 weight-loss mistakes

While the diet industry is getting bigger, some of us are not getting any smaller. Being over-weight feels so uncomfortable and has many related health and self-esteem issues. How can we lose weight for good? Well, to do this we need to know the pitfalls. So what are the top 10 weight-loss mistakes?

Number One: Wanting a quick fix.

Impossible quick-fix diets often lead to failure.  A low-calorie longer term eating plan is more achievable. Dieters often restrict themselves from everything in sight. Then when boredom sets in they feel so despondent that they eat too much.

Number Two: An ‘either-or’ mentality.

The unsuccesful dieter thinks in black and white extremes: rigidly sticking to a diet-plan by the book or eating everything in sight. 'Either I lose weight now and quick, or I will give up totally' is part of this mindset. Often a perceived bad dieting day can lead to giving up the diet.

Number 3: Going alone.

A dieter needs the encouragement and support of other people who are in the same situation. Understanding how to lose weight successfully is a new skill which needs training and knowledge and reaffirmation that the skill is being learnt properly.

Number 4: Using food as a crutch.

We are more likely to stray from our diets when we are emotionally upset and use food as a crutch.  If we are feeling upset, it is better to stay away from food and think about positve solutions such as talking to as friend.

Number 5: Being unaware what we are consuming.

We have all heard the obese person who claims ‘I hardly eat anything’. Often this person is having a lot more calories than they think they are. The calorific values of foods and drinks are often underestimated. Successful dieters record what they are consuming each day and they pay attention to portion sizes.

Number 6: Not having the right foods around.

If you crave calorific foods then try to make sure that you don’t have them in your house. Or buy smaller snack-sized portions of these foods. Have an abundance of low calorie fruit and vegetables to fall back on when you feel hungry. Making sure that your fridge contains the right foods is so important.

Number 7: Using scales too much.

Often, dieters feel they need to get on and off the weighing scales frequently to see if they are obtaining results. Scales are very distracting. The body weight

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