Explanations

1. Calorie-Dense: Foods high in calories, but not necessarily in nutrients. Usually consumed for reward/pleasure, not true hunger. Ex: fudge, chips, oil-based snack foods.

2. Nutrient-Dense: Foods high in nutrients. Calories vary, can be high-calorie and nutrient dense (avocado) or low-calorie nutrient-dense (bell peppers).

3. Mindless Eating: The equivalent of going on auto-pilot in a car …when filling up the gas tank. This habit contributes to consumption of significantly more calories than purposeful eating, and therefore is a culprit in weight loss.

4. Self Report Bias: Overestimating output and underestimating intake is the #1 reason those on a weight loss plan feel they’re doing everything right, but not losing weight. Also known as ‘self denial,’ this misinformation and self-report bias leads to inaccurate information and often a plateau. Can be strategic (perhaps the person is embarrassed of habits) or subconscious (e.g. mindless eating or miseducation about how much an exercise burns).

5. Plateau: Stolen from the flat-topped geographical term, this word has turned into a weight loss buzzword for those who have been losing weight and find the scales stuck at one weight. Period of time (and a person’s patience) can vary from days to weeks. Plateaus can be caused by almost anything, including self-report bias (most likely), a stale exercise routine, health issues, or from setting an unrealistic goal (less likely).