Weight Loss Diet Mistake #3: Too Much Cardio

A lot of people embarking on a weight loss diet get really pumped up about all the exercise they're going to do. They think about all the hours they'll spend running, biking, doing aerobic exercise, all forms of cardio. They figure this is the surest way to burn off calories and therefore to lose weight. If you are one of these people you could hardly be more wrong.

The sad truth is that all of these aerobic exercises we've been doing to try and lose weight all these years are simply not effective for that purpose. They are certainly healthy things to do and can provide you with a number of health benefits, it's just that rapid weight loss or even sustained weight loss is simply not among them.

In terms of actually shaping your body into the greek god you deserve to be, cardiovascular exercises like aerobics are the least important type of exercise that you can do. They simply do not tend to have any effect on weight loss. This is because it is true that you will burn some calories while doing the actual cardio exercises (although probably not as many as you think), you will not continue to burn those calories after your workout is done.

The key is to work out smart, not work out hard. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to discourage you from buying a used spin bike and going to town. It's just that you should realize that in order to boost your metabolism you need to build up your lean muscle mass, not just make use of the muscles you've already got. For more information on how to do that, go back and take a look at weight loss diet mistake #1.

Weight Loss Diet Mistake #2: Watching the Scale

Too many dieters make their weight loss into a race to the bottom of the scale. The scale should be the least of your concerns. Even though we call it a "weight loss diet," the goal in real life as opposed to the laboratory where they cook this stuff up is never to achieve a low number on the scale. The goal is to look good naked. Or in a bathing suit. Or even in a business suit.

If you lose a bunch of fat and put on a bunch of lean muscle mass, you might look worlds better and more attractive without ever shedding a single pound. Do you think anyone will ever know or care how much you weigh? Nope, they only care how you look. And the same should go for you. You should focus in on how you look and feel. Buy some quality plus size workout clothes and go to town, girl. Pick out some good fitness exercise equipment and really put in the effort, don't let yourself get discouraged.

If you need number to focus on, body mass index (BMI) is a significantly better measure than weight that you can use relatively easily, while body fat percentage is an even better measure. The lower your percentage of body fat, the less risk you will have of diabetes and heart disease, and the firmer and fleshier you will look. You will experience fewer incidences of cellulite or stomach "spillover" when you button your pants.

The key, then, is to exercise properly. And by properly, we mean in ways that build up your muscle mass and reduce your body fat. See "Weight Loss Diet Mistake #1" for some more information on the types of exercise you will want to focus on. In our next weight loss diet tip, we will talk about some of the exercises that are not worth your time when you're trying to seriously slim down quickly.