Diet mistakes spoil all your plans to slim down. Could you be making one of the following diet blunders?

1. CRASH DIETS- if, you suddenly stop eating, or eat just barely, you may cut down on calorie intake. By cutting the calorie intake to less than what you need, you may tend to lose weight fast. But when you eat fewer calories, your metabolism also slows down. This is a natural tendency of the body to tide over the “famine” period. When you stop that diet, you start consuming the food normally. But your body continues to burn calories slowly. This trend makes you regain weight, and fast.

2. AVOID BREAKFAST- Avoiding breakfast may feel like an easy way to lose weight. However, you will soon feel the uncontrollable hunger. Therefore, during the rest of the day you may have more snacks than you may normally have. Not only that, you may eat larger portions at subsequent meals also making you gain more calories then what you avoided by skipping the breakfast. In reality, a breakfast high in protein and fibre reduces hunger throughout the day thereby helping you avoid those unnecessary snacks.

3. EATING LOW-FAT- Low-fat products can help cut weight unless taken in multiple helpings. Low fat does not mean low calorie.

4. AVOIDING DAIRY- Avoid the high fat dairy products, but never stop taking dairy foods altogether. The body burns more fat when it gets dairy calcium. Calcium supplements do not help.

5. NO SNACKS AT ALL- thoughtful snacking may help control hunger and lose weight. Snacking with fibre and protein-rich snacks help keep your metabolism high.

6. TOO MANY SNACKS- Do you love to have those in between nibbles, maybe a chip, a biscuit? All that additional and fond munching simply adds up to the calories you take in besides the acceptable and planned intake of your otherwise acceptable diet.

7. TAKING THE FAST FOOD OPTION- The fast food is convenient and quick option after a tiring day. Not only are these foods usually high in calories, eating fast food can be a habit to avoid the tedious job of cooking. However, a salad or other healthier option is an equally fast option that may be used. Often available at the same fast food joint, you can always choose to have them if you can resist the other tasty treats.

8. DRINKING TOO MANY CALORIES- When counting calories, consider those fancy liquid consumables and beverages you consume. Even the so called “Diet” version of the beverages may put your diet plan haywire. Here is the simple reason why this happens. These “liquid calories” don't curb hunger and so you won’t eat any less. So when you have your meal, you consume the normal calories, and in addition you have had the calories of your favourite beverage.

9. DRINKING LITTLE WATER- Water helps burn calories by picking up your metabolism.

10. AVOIDING EXERCISE? By doing so you are left with only one means of losing weight- your diet. The more active you are, greater is the range of foods you can consume. Find an exercise you enjoy.

11. SETTING UNREALISTIC GOALS- Decide to do what is possible, or you just add up to the frustration.

12. WEIGHT CHECKING DAILY- Weigh yourself daily? It can be frustrating. And the frustration can lead you to skip that exercise schedule you framed so carefully. Once a week may help your long term goals. The result may be more motivating. more