10 MISTAKES TO AVOID ON BANTING
10 Mistakes to Avoid on Banting (From Someone Who’s Made Them All)
When I first started Banting, I honestly thought it was just about cutting carbs and watching the weight melt away. Easy, right? Well… not quite. Like most people, I made a long list of mistakes before I finally figured out what actually works.
If you’re starting out — or trying to get back on track — this article will save you a lot of frustration, wasted effort, and unnecessary setbacks. These are the 10 biggest Banting mistakes I see people make (and yes, I’ve made every single one of them myself).
1. Not Eating Enough Fat
In the beginning, I was terrified of fat. Years of “low-fat” messaging made me think I was doing something wrong by adding butter, avocado, and olive oil to my meals.
Big mistake.
Without enough fat, I was constantly hungry, tired, moody, and craving sugar. Banting only works when fat becomes your main energy source. Once I stopped fearing fat, everything changed — my hunger stabilized and the cravings faded.
2. Expecting Instant Results
I expected the scale to drop immediately. When it didn’t, I started doubting the whole lifestyle.
What I didn’t realize is that Banting heals your metabolism first. Hormones rebalance, insulin levels normalize, inflammation drops — and then the weight loss follows.
Now I focus on how I feel: better sleep, steady energy, fewer cravings. The weight loss always follows in its own time.
3. Eating Too Many “Low-Carb” Packaged Foods
If the packaging screams “keto-friendly” or “low carb,” I learned to read the ingredient list very carefully.
I was eating bars, shakes, snacks, and breads that were technically low carb but packed with seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and fillers. My progress stalled, and my stomach hated me.
Now I stick mostly to whole foods: meat, eggs, vegetables, and healthy fats.
4. Not Drinking Enough Water
Low carb changes how your body handles water and electrolytes. At first, I felt dizzy, tired, and headachy — until I realized I was simply dehydrated.
Now I prioritize water and add salt to my meals. That one small change made a huge difference in my energy levels.
5. Fear of Salt
This one surprised me. I used to avoid salt completely. On Banting, that backfired badly.
Without enough sodium, I had muscle cramps, headaches, and brain fog. Adding salt back in solved it almost immediately.
Salt is not your enemy on Banting — ultra-processed food is.
6. Underestimating Hidden Carbs
I once assumed onions, tomatoes, sauces, and spices didn’t count. They do.
Hidden carbs add up quickly, especially if you’re not paying attention. I learned to track loosely at first, just to understand where carbs sneak in.
Once I became more aware, my progress improved dramatically.
7. Not Planning Ahead
This was probably my most expensive mistake — emotionally and financially.
When I didn’t plan meals, I grabbed whatever was convenient. That almost always meant carbs.
Now I keep boiled eggs, cheese, cooked meat, and chopped vegetables in the fridge at all times. When hunger hits, I’m ready.
8. Comparing My Journey to Everyone Else’s
Some people lose weight fast. Some don’t. Some feel amazing in a week. Others take a month.
I wasted so much time feeling discouraged by other people’s progress instead of paying attention to my own body. Once I stopped comparing and started listening to myself, everything became easier.
9. Quitting After One “Bad” Day
I used to think one off-plan meal meant I’d failed completely. So I’d quit.
Now I know better. One meal doesn’t undo your progress — quitting does.
Banting isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency.
10. Forgetting Why I Started
Whenever motivation dropped, it was usually because I forgot my why. I now keep it written down: better health, more energy, confidence, freedom from food addiction.
That reminder pulls me through the tough days.
Final Thoughts
Banting is not a quick fix — it’s a lifestyle shift. The more I learned, the kinder I became to myself, and the easier this journey felt.
If you’re making some of these mistakes right now, don’t stress. You’re not failing — you’re learning. And learning is exactly how real change happens.
Stay consistent. Trust the process. And remember: progress beats perfection every single time.
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