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Advice from a weight loss coach in Virginia: what NOT to do to lose weight
June 15, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Advice from a weight loss coach in Virginia: what NOT to do to lose weight

Losing weight isn’t easy. If it was, everybody would be at a healthy weight all the time. It’s important to keep this in mind as you start a weight loss journey because there are going to be times when it feels harder than others to do what you need to. You’re going to look for a quick and easy fix and you’re probably going to want to quit. At Step by Step Wellness & Weight Loss, I can help you create healthy habits that will get you on the right path. Keep reading for advice from a weight loss coach in Virginia with things that you should NOT do to lose weight.

Focus on the scale

Many people have been told that they need to reach a specific weight that’s based on their height to be healthy. This is not necessarily the case for everyone. As you lose weight, your body is going to transform. You’ll find that a weight that you once set as a goal for yourself, is either no longer attainable or what you want your body to be. The scale can be a major deterrent to progress as it might not be an accurate depiction of how far you’ve come. Every body is different, so we shouldn’t base our own standards on what someone else is or has already accomplished.

Only do cardio

Many of us see people who are considered runners with toned and physically fit bodies. We want to automatically assume that they’ve achieved that level of fitness only by running several miles each day. While running and cardio, in general, are effective ways to lose weight, it’s not enough. Doing cardiovascular exercises should be a supplement to muscle-strengthening exercises like weight lifting, calisthenics, or plyometrics. You’ll find that your body feels better overall as you build muscle, your metabolism will increase, and you’ll have more energy.

Jump on fad diets

It seems like every year there’s a new diet trend that comes out offering a solution to lose massive amounts of weight quickly. Not only is it unhealthy to lose more than a pound or two each week, but it’s also not sustainable. Most fad diets take healthy habits to an extreme to get fast results that can have lingering effects on your body. Some diets take a toll on your kidneys or liver and you might feel the effects for years down the road.

Deprive yourself of certain foods

If you want to learn how to lose weight and keep it off, it’s important to have a healthy relationship with food. It’s most common for people to associate a bad relationship with food as eating too much of things that aren’t good for you. However, this isn’t always the case. A fear of gaining weight because of the food you eat can prevent you from eating enough, which leads to eating disorders. This can happen on a small scale by feeling like you need to avoid certain foods you love entirely rather than enjoying them sparingly. Furthermore, giving in after resisting a certain food for a long period of time can feel like a failure rather than a reward.

Give up

The worst thing you can do when trying to lose weight is to give up. Never give up. There are going to be challenges along the way, you will fail to reach certain milestones or accomplish specific goals. But you should never, ever give up. No matter how long your journey to a better, healthier you, keep going because you’ll be glad you did.

Schedule an appointment to get started

Don’t wait any longer to get started on your journey to a healthier. Get in touch with me at Step by Step Wellness & Weight Loss and we’ll work together to help you create healthy habits that last a lifetime. I’m ready to work for you as your weight loss coach in Virginia.