Have you tried dieting in the past but found it nearly impossible to keep up the regimen? If so, then you have probably made one of these five common mistakes.

1. Failing at Portion Control

Unless you’re on a specialty diet like South Beach or Atkins, portion control means everything. Follow the serving size suggestions closely. Many men ignore the suggested serving size and eat all they want of their dinner, only to find out no weight loss is happening.

2. Going Nuts with the Sauce

While most men can understand the concept of eating salads and vegetables instead of Oreo cookies, many among us have still not quite grasped the idea that sauce counts as calories. Sauces like salad dressings, ketchup and mayonnaise contain loads of calories! If you force-feed yourself salad all week, but flood your bowls with salad dressing, you defeat the whole purpose of eating “rabbit food.”

3. Vodka and Beer Count as Food

Men can give up lean meats at a moment’s notice, but once you cut into their alcohol supply that changes everything! Many men do go on diets only to douse themselves up with vodka, tequila, rum, wine and other drinks. Not only do alcohol drinks contain calories, but they also dehydrate you. Whereas water flushes out your system, alcoholic drinks contribute to overeating.

4. Eating too Fast

Men are so competitive! No wonder they tend to scarf down food as hungrily as they make love. However, eating slower helps you lose weight (you realize you’re full much sooner), you better digest your food, and you enjoy your food much more.

5. You Do Not Exercise Enough

When you work out, you’re not just exercising for the fun of it (though endorphins are a natural and free painkiller). You are attempting to burn off calories that you regularly take in. If you are taking in high amounts of calories on a daily basis then you must burn off double those calories in order to see any physical results. Don’t conclude that dieting alone (or dieting with brief exercise sessions) will bring you instant results.

Being mindful of these common mistakes may help you stay the steady course to weight loss!

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