10 Ways to Fail at Weight Loss
Don’t Deal with Emotional Eating
No matter how much weight you need to lose, you simply must face any emotional eating issues you have. Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Have a list ready of other activities you can do when the urge to eat hits you.
(Try to) Follow a Super-Strict Diet
When diets rely on one type of food or cut out entire food groups, they’re too difficult to stick to for any length of time. Ask anyone who tried the grapefruit diet.
Cut Back Too Many Calories Calories in, calories out – this is the key to weight loss. But cut too many and you won't lose weight at all thanks to the metabolism's "starvation" mode. Once the body is in this mode, it will fight to keep every once it has.
Go It Alone
We all need someone to talk to about the dilemmas that losing weight brings us. Whether online or in the real world, create a support system that will help you through.
Skip Breakfast
The old adage is true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It will get your metabolism going and help you from getting too hungry and overeating.
Don't Keep a Food Diary
How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been? To get a real grasp on what, how much, and why you’re eating, keep an honest food diary.
Set Unrealistic Goals
Avoid setting goals that even the most devoted dieter couldn’t meet. Can you really cut out all sodas if you’re used to downing a 2-liter a day? Is making it three times around the track doable when you just started walking last week?
Weigh in Every Day
Weighing in daily is a sure-fire way to give up on a diet before you’ve given it a chance. Weight fluctuates from day to day for reasons that have little to do with your efforts.
Exercise Too Much, Too Soon
Overdoing it will lead you to burnout and risk injuries from workouts that are too strenuous or too lengthy. If you’ve been sedentary, a few minutes every other day is an excellent way to begin.
Go Cold Turkey on Your Favorite Foods
Swearing off your favorite foods is a definite pitfall. Have treats occasionally (and in controlled portions!) will keep those cravings at bay.
Source: weightlosss.about.com