(BlackDoctor.org) -- The road to losing weight can be a very bumpy and frustrating one. As people reach obstacles and hit potholes, they tend to become discouraged. Many dieters make similar mistakes when dieting. Recognizing theses mistakes early on, may prevent you from making them later.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that dieters make:

1. The first mistake dieters make is developing unrealistic weight loss goals. Slower is better. Studies show that individuals who rapidly lose weight are more likely to gain it back. So if you’ve lost a few pounds this month, excellent! Don’t discount that, because you see someone on TV losing 15 pounds in two weeks.

2. Everyone is different. While some people lose a lot of weight in the first few weeks, others might not lose any weight for a few weeks. Although this can be frustrating when you’re doing everything right, it’s not a reason to give up. Sometimes it just takes a little while longer to see the results of your hard work reflected on the scale. Remember, eating right and exercising regularly have positive impacts on your health in many other ways, such as more energy, less stress, better sleep, and reduced risk of many diseases. You’ll receive those benefits, regardless of the number on the scale.

3. Many people lose a lot in the first few weeks, and then their weight loss slows down considerably. It’s totally normal to have weeks when you lose more than expected, and weeks when your weight remains the same despite your consistent efforts. Weight loss is rarely constant from week to week.

4. Cutting calories today (through diet and exercise) will not necessarily show up on the scale at the end of the day or even by tomorrow. Weight loss is not immediate. Your weight can fluctuate from day-to-day for reasons that have nothing to do with your diet and exercise program. Much of this fluctuation is due to water and food intake.

5. No one is perfect. You can expect to hit some bumps in the road, no matter how hard you’re trying. Setbacks are normal. The important thing is not to let those bumps get you totally off track, but to learn from them and move forward.

6. A lot of people assume that the less you eat, the faster you will lose. Eating less isn’t always better. One of the biggest mistakes dieters make is not eating enough. Your calorie range is based on your current weight, goal weight, how aggressive your goal is (whether you want to lose weight quickly or slowly) and how much exercise you are doing.

By John Williams, BDO Staff Writer