If you want to be successful in losing weight, here are the 7 most common mistakes to avoid when trying to lose weight. Check out these simple mistakes and see if you are sabotaging your weight loss.

1. Too Many Liquid Calories. Carbonated soft drinks, punch, lemonaide, juice and other drinks may have a large amount of calories. Drinks that are artifically sweetened may actually increase your body's desire for sweets. It is always better to drink water (maybe with a little lemon added) or unsweetened teas.2. “Dieting“. The Diet of the Day may help you lose weight for a short period of time but after you stop the diet and go back to your normal lifestyle, the weight will come back. A better plan is to commit to a lifesyle change. Five to seven fruits and vegetables a day, a small amount of lean grilled chicken and a small amount of carbohydrates are much better on a daily basis than a drastic change of diet for a few days.3. Aerobic Exercise. Exercise is good and necessary but you can also get worn out quickly by too much exercise too quickly, and then you will stop exercising. The gentle bouncing on a rebounder has many beneficial effects on both body and mind. Walking is a very important exercise that almost anyone can do. Try to get at least 30 minutes of some kind of exercise every day.4. Self-Destructive Thoughts. Thinking that you are just too fat to lose weight is a destructive thought. Any negative thought about yourself is destructive. Learn to love yourself as you are and see the trim, healthy person that is hidden inside.5. Not Eating Enough Fat. It has become fashionable to eliminate fats from the diet entirely. That is not healthful. Two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil in a stir fry of veggies is considered good fat. A plate of fried chicken with french fries on the side should be avoided.

6. Not Getting Enough Sleep. New studies have shown that 7 hours of sleep per night are important for rejuvenating the body to allow it to function more efficiently, which includes normalizing weight. Eight or 9 hours are even better. Fewer than 7 hours of sleep will cause your body stress which can actually increase your fat level.7. Not Enough Protein. Most people in America don't eat enough dry beans, which are a wonderful source of protein. Beans can be used in many different ways, including salads.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Don’t put it off. It’s the only life you have! Today is the day to start becoming healthier. Don’t wait.

Most diets are full of carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, breads, grains, cereals, pasta, etc. These foods are important but protein helps build lean muscle, which then burns body fat. Protein intake should be an important ingredient along with carbohydrate intake. A fat free diet is not a healthy diet. Our body needs the right kind of fat to function properly. The omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish and flax seed will help rev up your metabolism and give you shiny, healthy hair and healthy skin. Flax seed oil can be used on salads and there are many tasty ways to serve salmon and other fish. You are what you think you are. If your thoughts are positive and healthy you will be amazed at how quickly you will lose weight and become that trim, attractive person in your mind. Aerobic exercise is important and necessary for cardiovascular health and weight loss, but if you want to loose fat quickly and permanently, you also need to build up your muscles by lifting weights. Lean muscle is your body's primary fat-burning furnace. Try to lift weights at least 3 times per week. Diets, especially fad diets, don't work because they reduce your caloric intake so much that your metabolism slows down too much to burn any fat. The best way to lose weight is to have 6 small, balanced meals daily. The process of digesting food will help increase your metabolism while giving your body the nutrients it needs. You may be eating all the right foods but what you drink may contain a lot of calories. Soft drinks, juice, flavored coffees or coffee with cream and sugar, wine, and other alcoholic beverages can add up to a lot of calories. Pure water is the best choice. Green tea (without sugar) is also a wonderful drink. A splash of lemon juice adds a refreshing taste to both water and tea.

Joyce Kisling