You're eating your veggies. You're getting your cardio in. You aren't cheating. So, why aren't you making progress?! Here I share some common bad habits I see all the time that greatly impact your progress, whether it be weight loss or just toning up. Most people don't even realize what they are doing may be the reason they aren't getting the results they want! I picked the 5 most common that I see almost everyday. Keep reading to find out what might be slowing you down!
1) You are skipping breakfast.
You've heard it...breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is that really true? Well, in my opinion, yes! You may think skipping breakfast is saving you calories or making you eat less in a day, but really it's just harming your results. Breakfast is what kick starts your metabolism and gives you the energy to start your day. Your body has been fasting for probably over 7 hours, and it needs to be fueled. Eating a well balanced breakfast will also keep you full until your next meal and won't leave you feeling tired and hungry. It will keep you from grabbing that bag of chips an hour before lunch just because your stomach was growling. The benefits of eating breakfast far outweigh saving a few calories. And on top of that, why 'save' those calories. Your body needs them to fuel you throughout the day.
2) You aren't getting enough protein with each meal.
Protein is essential to building muscle and keeping our bodies healthy. When you exercise, your body breaks down muscle before it builds it back up. Protein is what helps our bodies rebuild those muscles. So, if you aren't getting enough protein, your body can't build those muscles as quickly. Protein also makes you feel full and satisfied at meals, preventing mindless snacking later on. Be sure you are choosing high quality proteins rather than just thinking a spoonful of peanut butter on your toast is enough protein for your breakfast.
3) You aren't getting enough sleep.
Our bodies need plenty of sleep. It is what gives us energy for the next day. If you are tired all the time, you will not be able to put as much effort into your workouts and your attitude will probably not be very good overall. It has also been shown that when people do not get enough sleep, their body craves more snacks and junk food to make them feel better.
4) You are overdoing the cardio.
While cardio is good and healthy in moderation, it is very easy to overdo it. You may wonder why you aren't seeing progress when your doing 30 minutes of cardio everyday. The truth is, we do not need this much and it can actually just harm our results. All cardio and no weights doesn't give our muscles a chance to really grow. Cardio is very tiring and harsh on our muscles and can eventually cause them to break down if not paired with proper weight training and other exercise techniques. Believe it or not, overdoing cardio can actually slow down your metabolism and cause issues with heart rate. So, do cardio in moderation, and be sure to have other forms of exercise as well.
5) You are avoiding carbs.
Carbs are given such a bad rep. in today's world. Don't listen to what people say about them! Carbs are so good for our bodies and in my opinion, should take up most of the calories that we eat. It does matter what kind of carbs you choose, but when you choose complex carbs, fruits, veggies, and whole grains, they provide you with so many benefits and are full of fiber. This macronutrient is what provides our bodies with energy and replenishes our glycogen storage levels. Diets high in carbs have actually been shown to help prevent weight gain. So, in short, don't be scared of carbs. Contrary to what you may think, these are actually crucial for your progress!
hope you learned something from this, xoxo, you got this girls!
You've heard it...breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is that really true? Well, in my opinion, yes! You may think skipping breakfast is saving you calories or making you eat less in a day, but really it's just harming your results. Breakfast is what kick starts your metabolism and gives you the energy to start your day. Your body has been fasting for probably over 7 hours, and it needs to be fueled. Eating a well balanced breakfast will also keep you full until your next meal and won't leave you feeling tired and hungry. It will keep you from grabbing that bag of chips an hour before lunch just because your stomach was growling. The benefits of eating breakfast far outweigh saving a few calories. And on top of that, why 'save' those calories. Your body needs them to fuel you throughout the day.
2) You aren't getting enough protein with each meal.
Protein is essential to building muscle and keeping our bodies healthy. When you exercise, your body breaks down muscle before it builds it back up. Protein is what helps our bodies rebuild those muscles. So, if you aren't getting enough protein, your body can't build those muscles as quickly. Protein also makes you feel full and satisfied at meals, preventing mindless snacking later on. Be sure you are choosing high quality proteins rather than just thinking a spoonful of peanut butter on your toast is enough protein for your breakfast.
3) You aren't getting enough sleep.
Our bodies need plenty of sleep. It is what gives us energy for the next day. If you are tired all the time, you will not be able to put as much effort into your workouts and your attitude will probably not be very good overall. It has also been shown that when people do not get enough sleep, their body craves more snacks and junk food to make them feel better.
4) You are overdoing the cardio.
While cardio is good and healthy in moderation, it is very easy to overdo it. You may wonder why you aren't seeing progress when your doing 30 minutes of cardio everyday. The truth is, we do not need this much and it can actually just harm our results. All cardio and no weights doesn't give our muscles a chance to really grow. Cardio is very tiring and harsh on our muscles and can eventually cause them to break down if not paired with proper weight training and other exercise techniques. Believe it or not, overdoing cardio can actually slow down your metabolism and cause issues with heart rate. So, do cardio in moderation, and be sure to have other forms of exercise as well.
5) You are avoiding carbs.
Carbs are given such a bad rep. in today's world. Don't listen to what people say about them! Carbs are so good for our bodies and in my opinion, should take up most of the calories that we eat. It does matter what kind of carbs you choose, but when you choose complex carbs, fruits, veggies, and whole grains, they provide you with so many benefits and are full of fiber. This macronutrient is what provides our bodies with energy and replenishes our glycogen storage levels. Diets high in carbs have actually been shown to help prevent weight gain. So, in short, don't be scared of carbs. Contrary to what you may think, these are actually crucial for your progress!
hope you learned something from this, xoxo, you got this girls!