By Femi Paseda
As a woman, do you want to lose weight via a diet plan or exercise routine? There are certain mistakes you need to avoid because these mistakes can take you one step backwards and two steps backwards, and this can be frustrating. So, in this week’s edition of health and fitness in Iya Magazine, we will be taking a look at some of the common mistakes women make while dieting and exercising and how you can prevent them.
1. Skipping Meals
Do you want to lose weight? Skipping meals, especially your breakfast, is not going to do you any good. Think of it like a situation where you stop fetching water into an already-full drum; it does not make it emptier than it already was before. So, the best thing is to eat in smaller portions, be in control of your sugar levels as well as your cravings, and exercise more often to lose weight.
2. Dieting and not exercising
This is one mistake my Nigerian ladies make a lot. They look in the mirror, think about losing weight, and they decide to try a new diet plan; well done. However, this does not help get the job done; it only frustrates you because you do not get the results you seek. Think of it like the government trying to improve the road standards by preventing the movement of big vehicles like tankers and tippers; it does not make the job any faster and better. Instead, try mixing your diet up with an exercise routine and enjoy the results that come with it.
3. Starting with too much
A friend of mine living in Lagos decided she needed to start jogging before going to work to improve her health and fitness levels, and she decided that, for starters, she could run from Lekki phase 1 through the Eko bridge and back. Now for those who know this axis and how far this is, it is obvious she decided to take on her Inner Goliath but guess what? She did not leave her house for a week and decided not to exercise anymore. So, starting with a lot can seem promising in the beginning, but in the end, it might end every zeal you had to exercise in the first place. So, from me to you, start small, and you’ll be happy you did.
4. Overeating
A lot of us women overeat after exercising. If you listen to them speak, they’ll tell you they just lost a lot of weight exercising, and they need a lot of food to at least replenish energy levels. What you have just done here is click the Undo button just like you do on Excel or Microsoft Word. If you overeat, not only have you undone all your efforts, but you also put yourself at risk of health diseases such as diabetes, depression and even high blood pressure, no matter how young you are.
5. Not enough water
When you exercise and do not drink enough water, what are you trying to spin a cloth in your washing machine? If you have been in the habit of not drinking enough water when you exercise, you need to start taking enough water. You need to drink at least eight glasses of water daily to improve your weight loss chances as well as your overall skin and body health.
Bottom Line
As my Nigerian ladies always say, “to lose weight, no be beans o”, but you can do it. While dieting and exercising, you need to avoid these mistakes and stand a chance of losing as much weight as you want. It might be tough, but you have got it.
