8 Common Mistakes When Trying to Lose Weight (4 of 5)

6. Having unrealistic expectations

Although setting weight loss goals can help keep you motivated, you want to keep things realistic. If your goal is to, say, lose 10% of your body weight, you should give yourself months to achieve this, not days or weeks. People who don’t reach their particular weight loss goals within a short time frame often become discouraged and quit. Losing too much weight can actually be an unhealthy thing. So instead, you should instead strive to lose one or two pounds a week maximum.

7. Choosing reduced fat or “diet” foods

Eating reduced fat foods or processed, low-fat snacks might seem like a good idea, but they can actually make it more difficult to lose weight. For instance, the fat taken out of peanut butter is replaced with loads of sugar. After all, it still has to be edible to the consumer. Low-fat yogurt might seem like a great option too, except that it also contains added sugar. In addition, foods that are low in fat will only make you feel hungrier, and as a result you’ll make more trips to the fridge and kitchen pantry for snacks. Opt for foods that are low in fat but full of nutrients — such as fruits and vegetables — along with a handful of nuts for a snack and extra virgin olive oil for cooking.