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| Tuesday, April 21, 2009 |
| Why "Diets" Don't Work |
Here’s something to think about…all diets work, but “diets” don’t work in the long run. Let me explain. Any diet that creates a calorie deficit will produce weight loss, but a “diet” is usually meant by most people to be a short term project. Therefore, once the weight is lost, people usually go back to their old habits and the weight comes back, just like that.
What makes people stop trying or continuing with their program? Maybe it’s because the “diet” is so ridiculous and hard to follow that it’s almost impossible to include in their daily life for any extended period of time. Or maybe it’s because they hit a plateau. If it’s a more sensible plan, people will most likely lose five pounds the first week, two to three the next, and only half a pound or so per week from that point on. This can be discouraging, but people have to understand that as soon as you start cutting down on the bad “stuff” (you shouldn’t be eating anyway), it will show, and dramatically at first. Then your body will get used to this new way of eating and will settle there for awhile. Your body doesn’t like drastic changes, it’s too stressful. So, it will do what it can to stay where it’s at, in a nice comfort zone.
Also know that you don’t lose weight by not eating. I could talk about this for days…the mistakes people make when they want to reduce their weight. And the biggest one is NOT EATING or skipping meals, you just can’t do that. You know it. You’ve been told, but you think it’s the easiest thing to do. People don’t want to have to think about it or work at it. That’s why programs offering pre-cooked meals delivered to your home are so popular.
But really, have you met anyone who has maintained their weight afterwards? You can eat pizza, chocolate cake and still loose weight they say. What happens when you’ve used all of your savings and can’t afford those boxed meals anymore? You will continue eating pizza and chocolate cake because that’s what you ate and were losing weight. But now it’s a different frozen label that probably has a lot more calories. Guess what? Soon you’ll find yourself right back where you started, plus some frustration.
Be patient. It took awhile for the weight to accumulate and it will take just as long, if not longer, to take it off. You’re not going to get rid of excess weight quickly and safely. The first thing I tell my weight loss clients is to stop eating diet food. Eat regular food, the same thing that you feed your family. If you cannot order something grilled, without sauce or fried, don’t eat out. Don’t be too drastic either. Start by cutting 300-500 calories by eliminating the stuff you shouldn’t be eating like cookies, candies, cream in your coffee or the cheese and crackers before dinner. And go for a minimum of a 30 minute walk daily. If you can’t, start with every other day and build up. Maintaining weight loss is about changing unhealthy behaviors into healthier ones, one step at the time. And again, celebrate the small successes; these are the ones that add up and count.
More to come so stay posted, I’m on a roll…
- Josee
Labels: Diet, Fact vs. Fiction, healthy tips, Josee, Weight Loss
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posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, April 21, 2009   |
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| 1 Comments: |
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I agree. It is about a change in lifestyle something you can stick with for the long haul. I always say makes small changes and they may turn into permanent ones in the end. Great post.
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I agree. It is about a change in lifestyle something you can stick with for the long haul. I always say makes small changes and they may turn into permanent ones in the end. Great post.