One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is: overestimating how many calories they burned during exercise and eating more to overcompensate.
The truth is, no matter how hard you work out, nutrition will still play a major role in weight loss or weight gain.
Lisa, one of my clients, recently she started running 30 minutes a day and she was surprised when she started gaining weight. I only had to ask her one question, "Are you eating more now because you started running?" Her answer was a definite "yes."
When you're working hard and pushing yourself with a new fitness routine, it's natural to want to reward yourself. Do so with whole, natural foods in portions that are appropriate for your size and goals. Letting go of good eating habits kills your workout results and keeps your body looking the same. Track your eating habits with a food diary so you can see exactly what needs to be corrected.
More: Shed Pounds With 15 Simple Food Swaps
And keep in mind that there are also many non-food-related ways to thank yourself for a job well done: buy a new book, watch a sunset, catch a Sunday-night football game with a buddy—anything that will put a smile on your face.
Loosing weight and getting lean is simpler than you think. You simply need to burn calories through effective fat-loss workouts and take in less calories than you burn. Commit to your new workout routine, eat five to six small meals a day, keep your food journal, and see what happens.
More: How Many Calories Do You Need?
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