If you’ve had kids it’s very likely your body was stretched out of shape like your husband’s favourite dry-clean only suit pants that you accidentally threw in with the wash (is this just me that’s done this?). Sagging and bulging in places you’d rather it didn’t. Never to be the same again.
Well, unlike your washing disasters, you can (almost) get back your pre-baby body. In fact, if you weren’t that in shape before you had kids you could actually get into BETTER shape!
I don’t know about you but as I get older and see more lines and grey hairs appearing, I’m looking to improve other parts of my body to counteract them! Plus exercise and getting healthy will help with signs of aging and the aging process, reduce the risk of health problems and generally keep us ticking along for longer. Who doesn’t want to watch their kids grow up and have families of their own, so we can become a burden onto them when we’re old and grey?
If you’ve tried losing the pounds before and struggled or have tried a million different fad diets and nothing has worked there’s a chance you made one of the following mistakes. Avoid these 8 pitfalls, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a better version of you.
Mistake #1: Not setting your goals properly
Preparation here is the key. You wouldn’t build a house without any foundations and a tree would fall over without roots anchoring it down. Many people don’t set themselves goals and you can’t reach a goal if you don’t have one. Instead, they have a vague wish or dream. This is too wishy washy! Goals need to be specific and measureable or how will you know when you’ve reached them? Also many people set goals without really having their heart in it. You should do this because YOU want to or need to. If you aren’t committed to change you will give up when it gets uncomfortable.
Do this instead: Think of your why. You should be doing this for you. Doing this to please others is not a good enough reason. Write down your reasons and goals and revisit them from time to time when the going gets tough. Your goal must be specific – set an end point and deadline. Your goal must be big enough to be a challenge. For it not to be too overwhelming this can be broken down into smaller mini-goals to keep you motivated.
Mistake #2: Obsessing Over The Number On The Scale
It’s time to stop using pounds dropped as the only measure of success in your workouts. Sure, when you’re looking to lose weight, you want to know what you weigh—but that number shouldn’t control you, and it definitely shouldn’t discourage you from sticking to your fitness plan, especially since getting on a scale daily can be a mind fuck. Your weight can fluctuate for so many different reasons, like how hydrated you are, what time of the month it is, and how much muscle you've developed.
Do this instead: Weigh yourself once a week or even once a month so you can see the changes over time without worrying about day-to-day fluctuations. Tune into other measures, like inches lost, how you feel and how your clothes fit. You may be see differences there even if the scale isn't budging.
Mistake #3: Thinking Fewer Calories Are Always Better
Starving yourself on an ultra-low-cal diet is not the way to lose weight long-term—and it can backfire by setting you up for bingeing and yo-yo dieting, Mitchell says. Not to mention, you’ll have zero energy for your workouts if you’re not eating well. View your body as a fireplace, and the fire is your metabolism. In order to keep your fire burning, you have to regularly give it wood.
Do this instead: Ditch extreme diets in favour eating three healthy meals a day with pre-portioned, nutritious snacks in between. Eating this way will fire up your metabolism, and you can get out of fat-storage mode and into fat-burning mode.
Mistake #4: Depriving Yourself Of All Your Favourite Foods
One of the most common causes of “failing” on a diet is underestimating how powerful your feelings about certain foods can be. We naturally have an emotional connection to food. People who completely remove a type of food will feel emotionally unstable and will think that the plan can’t work for them.
Do this instead: It’s fine to have a treat sometimes, so just relax and enjoy it. You’ll lose weight as long as that treat is part of an overall healthy diet (especially if you're also staying active), so the occasional splurge isn't a huge deal.
Mistake #5: Looking At Exercise Like A Chore
If you absolutely dread going to the gym, then you won't go—at least not regularly. We are all human, and if we aren't having fun, we will eventually fail with our fitness goals. Of course, there will be moments in every exercise routine that will be tough (and if there weren’t, you wouldn’t lose fat and gain muscle!). But your whole workout shouldn’t feel like a miserable slog.
Do this instead: Too many people think they hate working out when the reality is they simply haven’t found the right workout for them yet. Try different workouts until you find one you enjoy (at least relatively speaking). There are so many options—from dancing to rock climbing to hiking to cycling—that will help you break a sweat even if you hate the traditional gym bit. I like to think of it along the same lines as brushing your teeth: something you do routinely to keep you healthy and attractive!
Mistake #6: Letting Weights Intimidate You
Strength training has so many powerful physical and mental benefits, especially for women trying to lose weight. Yet there are still a lot of ladies who follow strict cardio-only routines. Heavier strength training releases powerful fat-burning hormones. Plus, it will help give you a sexy shape as you drop pounds.
Do this instead: Lift weights, and don’t be afraid to go heavy. If you’re not sure where to start, check in with a personal trainer/online coach. And if you’d prefer to steer clear of the gym, there are tons of bodyweight strength workouts you can at home (we've got a ton of them).
Mistake #7: Skimping On Sleep
Women will often not get enough sleep, thinking they can ‘catch up’ later—you can’t. This is disastrous for weight loss because when you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more cortisol, also known as the “stress” hormone. This increases your hunger levels and makes you crave sugar. Not to mention that trying to get through a good workout when you’re feeling exhausted is a losing battle.
Do this instead: Make getting seven to nine sleep your number-one priority, and don’t compromise on that. You’ll feel more balanced, calmer, and ready to achieve your goals.
Mistake #8: Grab a friend!
Many make the mistake of going it alone and losing motivation. As humans we tend to be social creatures and will mimic those around us to fit in. We are generally happier when we are doing things with friends and feel part of a group or team and this will motivate us to work for the greater good!
Do this instead: Surround yourself with fit friends or join groups on social media so messages of positivity may infiltrate your mind and seeing others around you who are motivated and achieving their goals should spur you on. Ask around if anyone wants to join you in your quest to get fit. If you haven’t got any willing friends to buddy up with, then there are plenty of people online or in offline groups/teams you can join and get to know.