No matter what time of year, men and women all over the world vow to start anew and pursue healthier ways of life in order to shed unwanted pounds. New diets are started, calories are counted and new fad weight loss supplements are consumed with dedication.
However, dieters often sabotage their own dieting efforts. Without realizing it, dieters consume extra calories, eat at non optimal times, and miss easy opportunities to burn calories. Most people become quickly discouraged when the pounds don’t drop off quickly or stay off.
If you are counting your calories each day, make sure you find a target caloric intake that is healthy and not too difficult to stick to. When you are allotted 1400 calories per day, that allotment can easily be taken up by drinks high in calories, super-sized foods and loaded salads.
When watching your daily calories, be aware of these diet sabotaging calories lurking in your everyday meals.
Morning or Afternoon Coffee
Coffee with flavored creamer can add unwanted calories to your diet. Be sure to account for the extra calories in any creamers you add to your cup of java. Should you swing by Starbucks for an afternoon latte, even the low fat or ‘Skinny’ versions can add more to your caloric intake and leave you little calorie-counting room for healthier options.
Salad Add-ins
Having a salad does not mean you’re on the straight and narrow when it comes to your diet. Salads are often full of added calories, when croutons, high calorie dressings and bacon bits are tossed in. While cheeses, eggs and avocados are healthy items to add to a salad, don’t go overboard or your salad could quickly get to 500 calories or more.
Super-sized Breakfasts
While a bagel or muffin sound harmless enough, these foods now come in super-sized portions that would sabotage any dieter’s efforts. A large bagel or muffin can cost you over 400 calories and leave you craving more carbohydrates and sugar not long after your last breakfast bite.
Portion Control
In most restaurants, the size of a meal could feed two or three and the calories for each meal, may surpass a daily calorie allotment. Just because the food is served on one plate, does not mean it all has to be eaten. Notice the size of the portions and consider sharing a meal. This will save calories and dollars.
The best way to stay on track when you start a new diet is to write down every meal, every snack, and every nibble. Don’t eat too late at night or close to your bedtime. Take every opportunity to get your body moving to burn more calories. And beware of hidden calories lurking everywhere that can completely derail your dieting efforts.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Lucia Jenkins - Lucia is lifelong student, writer and bookworm. She has worked in the IT Industry for over 15 years, specializing in Process Improvement, ...
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