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Did you know that by the time children reach the fourth grade; approximately 80% of them will have been on a diet at least once? (Time Magazine) The diet industry alone makes at least 50 billion dollars a year in revenue. You know what the irony is? 90% of all people that lose weight on diets will regain it in the following two years (and will probably gain additional weight as well). Also, The most common behavior that will lead to an eating disorder is dieting. DIETS DO NOT WORK!!!
Diets do not work for multiple reasons. The biggest reason is when you diet, you are inevitably going to restrict or cut something out. If you were asked to think of any color, but the color red, what is the first the color you would think of? Red - right? Well, that is similar to how the restrictive angle of a diet works. If you are trying to cut out a specific type of food (i.e., carbohydrates, fats, etc.) or even caloric intake, isn't it what you are going to be craving the most? It is simple (restriction): dieting leads to binge eating.
There are also repercussions to cutting things out of your daily diet. For example, if you cut out starches, your body will lose its source of constant energy, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish. If you cut out meats or protein, you are at risk of developing an iron deficiency. And what if you decide to skip meals or decrease your calorie intake? Well, you are risk of lowering your metabolism.
And what about those miracle pills that say they cut the fat out of foods or those drinks that promise to make your lose 10 pounds in 48 hours? They do not work! If they did, everyone would take them, right? All those diets (pills, liquids, etc.) are quick fixes and in the long run, they end up doing more harm than good.
The answer is to adapt a healthy lifestyle. First, you must learn that there are NO bad foods. You must keep moderation in mind, and remember you MUST nourish your body. Second, learn to really pay attention to your body and it's signs. Eat when you are genuinely hungry (not when you are bored, stressed, etc.), and stop when you are full (do not feel compelled to eat something just because it is in front of you). However, you MUST feed yourself. Skipping meals as a means of controlling your weight may cause malnourishment and your metabolism to slow. Lastly, you must incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Not only is it good for weight maintenance, it will make you feel good (exercise is a natural mood enhancer).
Make sure to eat wisely and exercise. The less likely you start your first fad diet, the less likely you will fall into the vicious dieting cycle and be trapped, or even more dangerous: develop an eating disorder.
One last thing, never forget to praise your body for all the amazing things it is capable of doing. |