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Losing weight, while generally boiled down to eating healthy, working out, and maintaining a calories deficit, can sometimes feel overwhelming as you struggle to parse through the do’s and don’ts that litter the internet. As you determine what your healthy lifestyle looks like and what habits you want to carry into it, according to health experts, there are things you should avoid in your morning routine if you actually want to see weight loss results.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
One common morning mistake that can actually impede your weight loss progress is skipping breakfast. Registered dietitian Shena Jaramillo warns that missing the most important meal of the day can actually lead to over-indulging later in the day which will make it more difficult to maintain the calorie deficit needed for weight loss. Start your day out with a hearty bowl of oatmeal or some avocado toast and eggs to keep you full and satisfied!
Don’t Avoid Produce
If you’re avoiding fruit or veggies for breakfast, you could be missing out on great health benefits for weight loss, according to registered dietitian Lisa Richards. She explains, “Breakfasts are typically filled with refined carbohydrates and saturated fat in the form of animal products and pastries. Even those marketed as healthy like meal replacement bars and lean meats could be leading to your stalled weight loss. Skipping produce, like fruit and vegetables, and opting for these inflammatory and fatty foods is one habit that needs to break if you actually want to lose weight.”
Not Hydrating
Drinking water first thing in the morning is vital for getting your digestive system working, and if you’re not taking your first sip until well into the day, this could be drastically slowing your weight loss progress. If you don’t have the taste for a plain glass of water right after you wake up, Richards suggests incorporating a water-based fruit like watermelon or citrus into your breakfast routine for hydration from an outside source!
Ditch The Juice
While juice is a breakfast staple in many households, Jaramillo warns against it as you try to lose weight. Juice is loaded with unnecessary sugar and stripped of the healthy fiber that fruit provides, so go for the most natural form and have an apple or an orange with your breakfast if you’re still craving that sugar.
Slow The Sweeteners
Morning coffee is the highlight of many people’s routines, and for good reason! But while coffee itself isn’t bad for weight loss, the added sugar and calories in creamers and sweeteners won’t do you any favors. Jaramillo suggests avoiding the sweet lattes as they can add anywhere from 300-500 calories to just your morning alone. Instead, brew up a cup of coffee at home and try stevia or another low calorie sweetener to cut the bitterness.
When creating healthy weight loss goals, it’s important to set yourself up for success at the beginning of the day, starting with your morning routine. Still sticking to the basic principles of losing weight, nourish yourself with whole foods in the morning and be sure to hydrate. Soon, you’ll see your healthy lifestyle changes pay off with results!
