Dieting Disasters

by Valerie Nahmad — September 1, 2007

Diets are one of those things you really want to make sure you do right. If you're going to sacrifice French fries and ice cream, you should get the results you want. Hungry-Girl helps us avoid common pitfalls with her list of dumb dieting mistakes. Get the full list here and read a few highlights below:

• Drinking your calories—Turns out calories in liquid form count just as much as those in solid. A Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frappucinno Blended Créme totals around 670 calories—nearly half a day's requirements. Stick to water, diet sodas, and other calorie-free beverages.
• Skipping Breakfast—Bypassing breakfast is bad on two fronts. First, it makes you hungrier and more prone to overeating later in the day, and second, the longer you wait to eat in the morning, the later your metabolism kick starts (it naturally slows at night and doesn't rev up until you eat).
• Not Counting Condiments—Sandwiches aren't all about the sandwich meat. One spoonful of mayonnaise clocks in at 100 calories and 11 grams of fat. Skip the mayo and sour cream and opt for salsa, ketchup, and mustard.
• Thinking All Salads Are Healthy—The word "salad" is not the Holy Grail of nutrition. Taco Bell's Fiesta Taco Salad totals an impressive 840 calories and 45g fat (almost the same as eating FIVE crunchy tacos). Slim up your salad by skipping eggs, full-fat cheese, fried noodles, fatty meats, and full-fat dressings. Instead, bulk up with beans, peppers, lean meat, and low-calorie dressings.