Did you know that 95 percent of individuals who go on a diet end up regaining the weight they lost? That statistic is shocking, but there are many reasons for this. Simply put, diets fail because not enough preparation is done beforehand. Why? Here is my list of 4 common dieting mistakes most people unknowingly make when undertaking a healthier lifestyle to lose weight.

Dieters Are Not Realistic

The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make it unattainable. For instance, resolving to NEVER eat your favorite food again or losing 50 pounds in 1 month is simply just setting yourself up to fail. Instead, strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding a certain food more often than you do now or losing 1 to 2 pounds per week until you lose 20 pounds. To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work.

Too Broad of Goals

To be effective, goals need to be pretty specific. Rather than simply saying I will “lose weight” say “I will lose 1 pound of weight per week by reducing calories by 500 per day and I will monitor this by getting on the scale every Monday morning and keeping a food journal.” Making a plan, rather than stating one daunting goal can create a series of smaller steps that are much more attainable, making it more likely you will reach a goal.

Obstacles Are Not Anticipated

One reason that diets fail is dieters don't anticipate the obstacles they will face. Making a big diet change is hard, and as soon as we are given a chance to quit, many do. Anticipating what these obstacles are and how to overcome them is a powerful game changer. For example, if you know you are tempted to stop at the ice cream shop every time you have a stressful work day, you need a plan for when that happens next. Understand your habits and figure out what else could be a stress reliever for you. Maybe you decide to get a massage instead, blow off some steam at the gym or take a walk.

Dieting Alone

For best results, dieters are encouraged to share their plan with family and friends. A support group to reach goals, such as a group of coworkers or an online weight loss group can be very helpful. Having someone to share struggles and successes with makes the journey to a healthier lifestyle that much easier and less intimidating.

If you or someone you know is considering starting a diet, be sure to fully prepare for such a task. This means both physically and mentally. If not fully prepared, it is easy to become part of the 95 percent statistic.

Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating provides the tools and resources needed to stick to your diet. Our delicious meal plans make it easy to eat healthy and manage portion control, while our blog provides helpful tips for keeping your diet on track. We are here to make sure you hit your weight loss goals!