Introduction
If you’re trying to lose weight, you may be making a mistake that could be sabotaging your efforts. According to a psychology expert, the #1 worst weight loss mistake you can make is not eating the right foods. Eating the wrong foods can lead to weight gain, cravings, and even health issues. Fortunately, there are some simple tips to help you make the right food choices. Eating This Not That is a great resource for finding healthy alternatives to unhealthy foods. It provides information on the nutritional value of different foods, as well as tips on how to make healthier choices. With the right information and a little bit of effort, you can make sure you’re eating the right foods to help you reach your weight loss goals.
The #1 Worst Weight Loss Mistake You Can Make, Psychology Expert Says — Eat This Not That
If you’re trying to lose weight, you may be making a mistake that could be sabotaging your efforts. According to psychology expert Dr. John M. Grohol, the #1 worst weight loss mistake you can make is to focus on the number on the scale.
Dr. Grohol explains that the number on the scale is not an accurate measure of your progress. He says that focusing on the number can lead to feelings of discouragement and frustration, which can lead to giving up on your weight loss goals.
Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, Dr. Grohol recommends focusing on the quality of the food you’re eating. He suggests eating more whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
Dr. Grohol also recommends focusing on the physical activity you’re doing. He suggests doing activities that you enjoy, such as walking, biking, swimming, or dancing. This will help you stay motivated and make it easier to stick to your weight loss goals.
By focusing on the quality of the food you’re eating and the physical activity you’re doing, you can make progress towards your weight loss goals without getting discouraged by the number on the scale.
Dropping pounds itself isn’t an easy undertaking, but the psychological journey toward weight loss is arguably an even greater challenge. The Chief Scientific Officer at WW (formerly Weight Watchers) is a clinical health psychologist who’s out with a new book to help you reframe your mentality around weight loss so you’ll have better chances it’ll work for good. Here’s the one factor that he says best serves anyone on a weight-loss and wellness journey.
Gary Foster, Ph.D., has studied the psychology of obesity and weight loss throughout his career. Keep reading to learn about one of the main themes in his new book, The Shift: 7 Powerful Mindset Changes for Lasting Weight Loss (St. Martin’s Press).
In The Shift, Foster identifies one hope that many dieters set out with on their weight loss journey. “Everyone is focused on what and how to eat. I get questions like, Can you really eat bacon and lose weight? . . . What foods start my metabolism in the morning? . . . People often want to be told what to eat.”
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Foster says his career has taught him that when you frame weight loss around what to eat versus what not to eat, in your mind, this can set you up for a win or lose situation.
If you think losing weight is about having the willpower and discipline not to eat a lot of foods that bring you pleasure—and then you eat them, because you’re stressed or busy or you’re having a tough day on your diet—you’ve created a scenario where it’s only natural to let yourself down.
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In The Shift, Foster says he often asks this question at WW workshops: “What’s the single most important tool for success on the weight-loss journey?”
He shares that many participants respond with answers that make losing weight sound hard, such as “Persistence,” or answers that highlight their current shortcomings, suggesting that they themselves are not eating enough healthy foods or exercising as much as they should.
Instead, Foster gives his answer that he’s found to be essential to weight loss success: “‘Self-compassion,’ I say.”
He explains what this means: “Considering yourself worth taking care of. An outlook that frames things not as failures but as chances to learn and grow.”
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Foster points to “extensive research” that shows self-compassion is one of the most important elements of staying fit long-term. He quotes Gary Bennett, Ph.D., professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University and specialist in obesity treatment.
Bennett says: “Clinically, patients who do well over the long-term—four, five, 10 years—are those who are basically able to put into practice self-compassion skills.”
Next, here are a few more links that might inspire that spirit for you…
A few more articles to inform your journey:
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20 People Explain Exactly How They Lost 20+ Pounds This Year
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The Best & Worst Greens to Eat—Ranked by Nutritional Benefits
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