Copying someone else’s diet
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to losing weight – no matter what the celebrity on your social media feed might claim. “It is definitely hard to shut out all that white noise coming from social media, but understand that no one diet works for everyone,” Zeitlin says. Instead, make a list of goals and follow a lifestyle that helps you achieve them, and don’t be afraid to seek out a registered dietitian for extra guidance if you need it.
On the other hand, here are 7 ways social media can help you lose weight.
Learn the 7 things you can do on social media to help you see results on the scale.
Using exercise as an excuse to eat
Think you earned a cookie after your 30-minute run? Not so fast. Research shows that this seemingly harmless habit could sabotage your weight-loss goals. In one study, people estimated that they had burned nearly four times more kilojoules than they actually had – and then they consumed more kilojoules than usual as a “reward” for exercising. Luckily, there are plenty of diet-friendly ways to motivate yourself to hit the gym, such as buying new workout gear or finding an exercise buddy.
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Focusing on the number on the scale
Progress isn’t always about shedding kilos. Instead of getting wrapped up in the number on the scale, Walters recommends focusing on how dieting and exercising make you feel. “Do you feel more confident? Stronger? Proud of yourself and your body?” she says. “Focusing on those wins can help you to not only improve the relationship with your body, but also develop a deeper motivation for being active.”