If you're thinking of going on a diet to lose those extra pounds think again. Long-term weight control through dieting is near impossible, for
simple reason is that diets promote only short term solutions not long term.
After dieting you’ll certainly look lighter on
scales, but in most cases this is because you've dumped a few pounds of body fluid and muscle, and not because you've lost any significant amounts of body fat.
One of
main reasons diets don't work is because they send
body into starvation mode - a survival mechanism for times when humans faced periods of famine. Cutting back on our energy intake causes
body to lower its metabolic rate, which reduces its ability to burn fat.
At
same time, hunger signals increase and we quickly start to crave high energy foods loaded with fats and sugars -
exact foods we are trying to do without!
Alarmingly, research has shown that repeated dieting actually makes it harder to lose weight and easier to put it on.
This is because when you dump
diet and return to normal eating habits,
drop in metabolic rate caused by
diet means that your old eating habits actually represent an excess in calories. Not only do you regain
fat stores just lost, but you may even gain a bit extra.
"Five more reasons to stop dieting"
·Diets sap energy - Too little food means not enough energy for physical activity.
·Diets lower your metabolism - Dieting causes your body to conserve energy, making results harder to achieve.
·Diets are unhealthy - A cycle of rapid weight loss followed by weight gain can lead to a loss of lean tissue from your body and calcium from your bones. It also strips
body of essential vitamins and minerals.
·Diets make food
enemy - Food provides nourishment and comfort. Diets can make you afraid to eat, depriving you of one of life's pleasures.
·Diets cheat your confidence - Going from one failed diet to
next can leave you feeling depressed and create a cycle in which guilt battles against food.
Regular physical activity and a healthy, balanced diet aren't as glamorous as
quick fixes, but they do get better results.
Start with one extra exercise session and one less fatty takeaway meal per week, and gradually work towards a lifelong plan for achieving your best weight.
If you change
way you eat or exercise to lose weight, ask yourself this question. Can I see myself sticking to this routine for life?
If
answer is "no" then its time to change what you're doing. Any healthy weight loss plan should include
following: