Everywhere you turn, someone is promoting the latest, greatest way to lose weight and keep it off. But, the moral of the story is that the secret to weight loss is a long-term, healthy lifestyle and that there is no magic secret about it. 

Here are 6 things that you should avoid doing if you want to lose weight and keep it off for good.

1. Completely Banning Certain Foods

When you place restrictions on your diet that are simply too strict, you are setting yourself up for failure. When something is forbidden, it becomes more attractive. Instead of completely banning foods that you tend to overindulge in, consider limiting them to only special occasions or as treats. And, try to consume smaller amounts so that any extra calories do not derail your healthy eating plan. Buy smaller amount so that you are less tempted to go overboard!

2. Conquer Sleep Deprivation

Feeling tired is a sure way to tempt fate when it comes to your healthy diet. Making sure you get enough good rest can help. Sleep definitely affects your eating habit, and mid-day fatigue makes unhealthy cravings more common. Be sure to get 7-8 hour per night to help stay in control.

3. Skip the Crash Diets

Sure, fasting for a week may help you shed a quick five pounds but it will surely come right back. When you fast or cut back too much, your metabolism slows as your body tries to adjust. This is definitely not a good solution when you want to lose weight and keep it off.

4. Avoid Binge Drinking

Drinking too much alcohol not only lessens your inhibitions, but it can lead to excess eating as well. Make sure that if you plan to have a few drinks, which is okay occasionally, that you have plenty of healthy snacks on hand for when you get the munchies.

5. Don’t Skip Meals

Skipping meals does not help you cut calories. When you skip breakfast or lunch, you are more likely to overdo it at dinner time. Your body will function best, and your metabolism will be the strongest if you eat several small meals spaced throughout the day. If time is tight, reach for healthy snacks instead of skipping altogether.

6. Cut Out Fat Free Foods

If a food is labeled as fat-free, chances are the fat is replaced with some kind of processed chemical. These ingredients can often increase the odds of having cravings, which will totally counteract the calories that you save by opting for the fat free versions. Also, removing fats from dairy foods will reduce the healthy nutrients and vitamins.

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to adopt a healthy lifestyle. These six tips can help get you well on your way to meeting your goals!

SOURCES:https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/how-lose-weight-and-keep-it; Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net