The beginning of 2015 has been characterized by overcrowded gyms, an increase in the sale of health foods, and a surge of willpower among the general population that has resolved to mark the New Year as the start of their new and improved healthier lifestyle. With health related maladies on the rise all across the country, it should be good news that so many individuals are making active efforts to improve their well being. However, the preventative measures being taken by the majority of these go-getters could actually do more harm than good to their health, and be the very reason they are not seeing the sort of progress they hope for. Here are just a few of the most common mistakes that could ultimately dissolve your resolve to have a healthier life.   

“I will cut carbs from my diet.”  

Many opt to put breads, pastas and potatoes on the back burner in efforts to cut “bad” calories from their diets. What many don’t realize is that they are actually cutting their body off from its main fuel source. Cutting carbs from your diet may give you the rapid weight loss you want, but it is not the long term answer to sustaining a balanced diet. Carbs actually have fewer calories per gram than fat, protein or alcohol, and the Food Standards Agency recommends that they should make up about 50 percent of our daily calorie intake. The carbohydrate has earned a bad reputation from many modern day diets that have pointed their finger and deemed it the main contributor to weight gain. What should really take the blame is our portion sizes and additives. In other words, it is okay to have a bread roll before dinner. Eating the whole basket of rolls and covering them all in butter, however, you could do without.

“I’ll start a fat-free diet.” 

One look down the isle of your local grocery store will confirm our obsession with low-fat foods. Convenient snacks pose as guilt-free options, ranging from low-fat cake and ice cream to reduced-fat cookies and chips. With so many fat-free options, why is it that our obesity rates continue to rise? Eating less fat is helpful when maintaining a healthy diet, but it is important not to lose sight of the fact that not all fats are created equal. While trans fats and saturated fats lurk in some of the most unhealthy foods -- think butter, fried foods, and anything wrapped in individual packages -- there are other fats our bodies need in order to function, like the fats found in nuts, olive oil, avocado and fish, to name a few. Including these good fats in your diet helps improve mental health, physical health, and even control your weight. So the next time you need a snack, skip the low-fat potato chips and opt for a handful of unsalted nuts. 

“Have you heard of this new fad diet?”

From the South Beach to the Paleo-diet, each dramatic new plan has one thing in common: they are fad diets. These short term plans are designed for quick results, but they are only effective as long as you are on them -- hence they are a fad and not just a diet. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a magic cure-all method to aid weight loss, and there is no supplement you can take that will make you completely healthy. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. More importantly, your body is unique to you, and no cookie-cutter diet solution can possibly offer your specific needs. The ultimate takeaway is  stay away from fad diets.

Although it may seem old fashioned, a healthy amount of physical exercise, fueled by a well balanced diet, is your most sure-fire way to become the healthiest you this year.