Whether you’re just getting started with your fat loss program – or you’re working out consistently, but frustrated with your lack of results – know this: It’s your diet that will, without a doubt, make or break your fat loss efforts.
Eating healthy on a consistent basis is tough! There’s no doubt about it. And people seem to encounter many of the same dietary obstacles and frustrations in their dieting efforts. So here’s my best effort at solving your top five diet problems:
Your Top 5 Diet Obstacles & Frustrations – Overcome
1) Lack of food prep/planning due to stress/laziness/etc.
Most folks don’t plan ahead properly, and as a result, end up making bad food choices.
For example, let’s say you’re away from home on a typical work day for 10 hours. If you’re trying to stick to a healthy eating plan, you had better be bringing some food with you and knowing exactly what you’re going to eat over the course of the day. Otherwise you’ll be stuck grabbing something from the vending machine or going out and grabbing a burger for lunch.
The other issue folks seem to run into with this one is not wanting to deal with preparing food due to stress/laziness/etc. The best solution I’ve personally come up with here is to prepare food in batches for several days at a time. For example, you might cook five or six chicken breasts and a large pot of brown rice, and then portion out five meals and put them in containers to eat over the next two or three days.
2) Portion control
This one generally comes down to one of two things:
- You eat too much
- You don’t know what proper portion size actually is
The solution to both of these is to weigh and measure your food. Even if for a short period of time, it’s an invaluable – and necessary – exercise to make sure you’re eating the proper portion sizes.
Most people have no idea what three oz. of chicken breast or 1/2 cup of rice actually looks like. But after you weigh and measure everything you eat for a week, you will.
3) Lack of discipline
Here’s where you too easily give in to cravings. Or you’re just undisciplined in general with eating healthy foods.
What’s always helped me personally the most with this one – as has with my most successful clients – is having clearly defined goals. If you just set a goal of “losing weight”, it’s not really specific enough. But if your goal is to “lose 15 pounds and 6% body fat before your vacation to Hawaii in 8 weeks”, it adds a whole new element of focus and drive to your efforts.
4) Busy schedule/stress
A LOT of people have busy schedules. And a lot of people are stressed out. I know it’s a tough pill to swallow – but consider these two points:
- Someone busier than you is working out right now
- Someone busier than you eats better and cleaner than you do every day
It’s possible to eat right and you know it. Stop making excuses and just get it done!! 
5) Alcohol
Here’s another tricky one. My best tip for here is not to necessarily eliminate, but to moderate.
One 5 oz. glass of wine isn’t really a problem – you’re talking maybe 100 or 150 calories. On the other hand, two 7 oz. glasses and you’re getting close to 500 calories total – which can lead to some pretty significant weight gain if you do it on a consistent basis.
SO – there you have my best crack at addressing your top 5 diet obstacles and frustrations. I hope you enjoyed this article and that it’s a help to you reaching your ultimate fat loss goals!
To your success –
Forest Vance
Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach
PS –If you are looking for more diet information, go to this Sacramento Nutritionist’s website at http://www.forestvancetraining.com/sacramento-nutritionist.
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