Diets do not work and people fail to grasp this simple fact although the results often speak for themselves. Research has revealed that after losing weight on a diet, people often put all the weight and more back on. One would think that this would provide enough reason for them to stop dieting now. Weight loss is not sustained because so many other factors besides food are not taken into account. Some of these factors are psychological, such as stress and faulty thought patterns. Others are physical such as a need for exercise and proper hydration.
Many of us equate the word diet with a short-term period of deprivation. We repeatedly put ourselves on diets but find that they are not sustainable in the long term. However, we do not seem to learn from the experience and tend to fall for the next great diet that people are promoting. For most of us, following a particular diet long term without any cheating is just not possible. Instead, changes have to take place in the way we think and our lifestyle that can realistically be sustained.
When calories are reduced, the human body responds by slowing down metabolism. This is because it is designed for survival, even under the harshest of conditions. A really drastic diet can trigger off all kinds of symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, irritability and physical and mental fatigue. When the body does not receive what it needs, health is compromised.
When one feels hungry and deprived all the time, this probably indicates that the diet is not adequate. Lean proteins like fish and eggs, good fats in nuts, seeds and some oils as well as the right amount of fiber can all help a person to prevent feeling hungry without preventing weight loss.
Our attachment to food carries with it much emotion. It is associated with family celebrations. We reach for it to comfort us when we are depressed, sad or afraid. This is why it is not enough just to deprive ourselves of food. We have to face our emotional attachment to it too and find ways to deal with this or weight loss will always be compromised.
Social pressure also tends to make us eat more. We are enticed by family and friends to eat foods we know we should not be eating. Ways need to be found to deal with this kind of pressure. Food and entertainment often go together and one cannot simply avoid these situations. People on a diet usually find such occasions a nightmare and they often trigger off cheating.
When human beings feel as though they are being deprived, they tend to feel resentful. Building in certain treats is important as this helps to prevent totally abandoning a diet or binge eating. Dark chocolate, for example, is a good nutrient rich treat food. If one feels that one is never able to have treats again, this simply sets one up for failure.
Sustainable weight loss does not come from going on any fad diet. It usually comes in the form of changes in thought patterns and lifestyle changes that can be maintained in the long term. These changes require commitment but give results that are far better than continually going on one diet or another.
Many of us equate the word diet with a short-term period of deprivation. We repeatedly put ourselves on diets but find that they are not sustainable in the long term. However, we do not seem to learn from the experience and tend to fall for the next great diet that people are promoting. For most of us, following a particular diet long term without any cheating is just not possible. Instead, changes have to take place in the way we think and our lifestyle that can realistically be sustained.
When calories are reduced, the human body responds by slowing down metabolism. This is because it is designed for survival, even under the harshest of conditions. A really drastic diet can trigger off all kinds of symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, irritability and physical and mental fatigue. When the body does not receive what it needs, health is compromised.
When one feels hungry and deprived all the time, this probably indicates that the diet is not adequate. Lean proteins like fish and eggs, good fats in nuts, seeds and some oils as well as the right amount of fiber can all help a person to prevent feeling hungry without preventing weight loss.
Our attachment to food carries with it much emotion. It is associated with family celebrations. We reach for it to comfort us when we are depressed, sad or afraid. This is why it is not enough just to deprive ourselves of food. We have to face our emotional attachment to it too and find ways to deal with this or weight loss will always be compromised.
Social pressure also tends to make us eat more. We are enticed by family and friends to eat foods we know we should not be eating. Ways need to be found to deal with this kind of pressure. Food and entertainment often go together and one cannot simply avoid these situations. People on a diet usually find such occasions a nightmare and they often trigger off cheating.
When human beings feel as though they are being deprived, they tend to feel resentful. Building in certain treats is important as this helps to prevent totally abandoning a diet or binge eating. Dark chocolate, for example, is a good nutrient rich treat food. If one feels that one is never able to have treats again, this simply sets one up for failure.
Sustainable weight loss does not come from going on any fad diet. It usually comes in the form of changes in thought patterns and lifestyle changes that can be maintained in the long term. These changes require commitment but give results that are far better than continually going on one diet or another.
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