The need to be slim does not usually lie in the physical plane of limitation, but in the sly “traps” of the mind. The incorrect dieting patterns, overeating and binging on the wrong foods typically have their cause in the psychological arena. Let us explore below some crucial facts which stop you from losing weight.
1. The false sense of endless hunger
The moment you restrict calories, your brain can essentially “sound the alarm,” warning that your body is running low on fuel. Therefore, you experience a burning feeling of hunger despite the fact that there‘s no physical hunger for food. Breakdowns and bingeing typically result.
What to do:
Eat more frequently, but in smaller amounts. Include more fiber (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) and protein in your diet to keep you full for longer.
2. The "snacking" habit under stress
Others “treat” themselves to delicious but calorie-dense food upon stress or when feeling depressed. It momentarily boosts the mood but only ends in guilt and postpones the process of losing weight.
What to do:
Replace other stress-reducing activities with “snacking”: taking a short walk, meditation, reading, or a quick call to a friend. Prepare in advance with snacks to beat impulsive decisions for sweets.
3. "Rewarding" with food
The other trick of the brain is the desire to reward yourself for work or exercise done. “I was good today, I can treat myself to a cake!” – with such reasoning, all the efforts in the gym are easily ruined.
What to do:
Identify other pleasurable alternatives (purchase a book, go out to a movie, treat yourself to something small) rather than “consuming” the reward. Log your training and outcomes separately so that you are able to observe actual progress without “sweet bonuses.”.
4. Overestimating calories expended
Following an intense workout, your brain overestimates how much you burned. You reward yourself with more “treats” than you burned in calories.
What to do:
Maintain a food diary or utilize applications that compute the calories. They will not confuse you among the figures. Try to ground your judgments on real facts rather than personal beliefs.
5. Fear of change
Any transformation calls for us to come out of our comfort zone. The brain is programmed to save us from pain and will have reason to “put everything off until tomorrow.” Due to this, you can sabotage your diet, miss exercise sessions, or give reasons for not embracing new habits.
What to do:
Take it easy. Gradually change your lifestyle and diet so that your brain won’t perceive it as a threat. Be surrounded by positive thoughts and have people around you who inspire change.
Conclusion
Our brain is a great helper, but in the matter of losing weight, it is very misleading. Having learned its secrets, you will be able to schedule your diet and training more effectively. Train yourself to react to the body’s actual signals, not to false signals of hunger or “well-deserved rewards.” In this way, the weight loss process will be more conscious and less stressful.
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