Weight loss can feel daunting, but sometimes all it takes is a shift in mindset to get you on the right path.
After successfully losing six stone, one slimmer has proven that challenging common misconceptions about weight loss and healthy eating helps.
The Briton's weight loss happened after she discovered that weight loss is fundamentally about maintaining a calorie deficit, as opposed to following restrictive eating patterns.
In a recent clip, Shannon Mitchell shared: “[These are the] myths around weight loss that I believed to be true before losing six stone.
The slimmer shed six stone
TIKTOK / SHANNON_MITCH
“My idea of a healthy diet before I lost weight was always, salads, no snacks, and no junk," she added.
The key to Shannon's achievement stems from her understanding that weight loss boils down to a simple principle: consuming fewer calories than the body burns.
“Now I know that this is so far from the truth," she noted.
"It literally just is calories out calories in. You need to eat in a deficit and you’ll lose weight. This means you can eat whatever you want.
“Eat a packet of crisps and it’s not going to affect you whatsoever, as long as you’re staying in a calorie deficit.”
This method not only allows for more flexible eating patterns, but it means slimmers don't have to restrict their favourite foods and snacks.
How to eat in a calorie deficit
When eating in a calorie deficit with the aim of losing between one to two points a week, it is advised that your food consumption should provide between 500 and 1000 calories less than your total weight maintenance.
Dieters who dislike counting calories can restrict how much they eat and how often in order to reduce their caloric intake.
“Simple things like adjusting portion size sizes and making sure your meals are made up of the right types of food can also make a big difference,” notes the NHS.
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Shannon advocates for maintaining a calorie deficit to lose weight
TIKTOK / SHANNON_MITCH
Because being precise with calorie counting is inherently difficult, the health body has offered tips on how to stay on top of it.
“Having a daily record of everything you eat and drink can make it a lot easier to keep track of your calorie intake,” it advised. “Try it for a week or two to get a good idea of how many calories you’re consuming and continue to keep a food diary if you find it useful.”
When tracking calories, it's crucial to remember often-forgotten additions like cooking oils and spreads.
Other hidden calories to account for include toppings, accompaniments like cheese or yoghurt, and condiments such as mayonnaise and ketchup.
