|
Author: Marsha J. Hudnall Article source: http://www.halls.md/. Used with author's permission.
Clearing the Path for Successful Weight Management
Dieters striving for success in their efforts to manage their weight may have more than just unwanted pounds to lose. First, they have to shed some common myths about dieting.
Myths about dieting instil false hopes in people striving to manage their weight, misleading them to formulate lofty expectations that only serve to frustrate their efforts and stunt their progress.
Indeed, there is little evidence - if any at all - to support three common myths about dieting, as reviewed in a recent edition of Healthy Weight Journal. Demystifying the myths about dieting and learning the trust about the effects of calorie restriction are important steps in beginning to give up dieting and start eating normally as part of a healthy lifestyle that supports success at weight management.
Myth #1: Dieting makes you thin.
Most people who lose weight by dieting eventually regain the pounds, and most gain back even more than they lost. A review by the National Institutes of health of all published studies on the efficacy of weight loss treatments indicates that people, regardless of their weight, lost an average of only 10 pounds over many weeks and months of dieting (and for many of these people, 10 pounds was a trivial amount of weight). Further, most of the weight lost was regained within one year, and almost all of the weight, for all of the people, was regained within five years.
What's the reason for the lack of success? The authors of the article speculate that one reason may be the body's natural reaction against weight loss. That's not to say that we can't optimize our natural tendencies in the weight arena, but the fact remains that genes predispose some people to obesity, particularly when they are in an environment that promotes overfeeding.
And that leads us to the second reason for the lack of success most people see with dieting. The inability to lose significant amounts of weight, or maintain weight loss, through dieting likely has a lot to do with the overeating that occurs when people go off the diet. You've heard it here before: If dieters think they've eaten foods they shouldn't (which usually means beloved, high-calorie foods), they usually abandon their diets and splurge on large quantities of "forbidden" foods.
Myth #2: Dieters eat less than non-dieters.
Not so. Studies show that restrained eaters (or dieters) often consume more snacks and eat more frequently than unrestrained eaters (normal eaters). Overeating and increased hunger occur after periods of physical and psychological deprivation induced by periods of food restriction. The consequence? Very often, it's a binge. See binge eating disorders.
Myth #3: Dieting makes you happier.
Wrong again. Instead, the outcome of dieting seems to be the opposite - feelings of depression, anxiety and frustration. The fluid loss and empty stomach in the early stages of dieting are, in effect, come-ons. They offer encouragement to the dieter, but within a short period of time, the "baggage" attached to dieting begins to produce negative effects. The dieter can't eat when, where or what she wants. Socializing becomes unappealing if the dieter is determined to stick with her diet. Some dieters become irritable and energy-depleted due to hunger. And obsession with food and eating begin to cloud the dieter's ability to think about other things.
It's not hard to see why Americans are struggling with an obesity epidemic, given that for several decades, most of the American population seemed to be permanently "on a diet." Fortunately, more and more of us - and the health professionals who work with us - are getting the message that diets don't work. As we have long promoted at Green Mountain, if we change our focus to health, we will take care of our weight. As important is the fact that achieving and maintain a state of health can be an enjoyable process. The keys are normal eating that includes the foods you love in amounts that leave you satisfied without feeling stuffed, regular physical activity that you enjoy, effective stress management, and feeling good about ourselves and our bodies, no matter what our weight. It helps to remember, as one speaker noted at a recent conference we attended, "Life is too short for self-hate and celery sticks!"
©2004 Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont. Marsha J. Hudnall, MS, RD, CD is director of health communications and senior nutritionist at Green Mountain at Fox Run, an all-womens weight loss program. For over 32 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and refined a life-changing Weight Loss Spa through lifestyle change, exclusively for women. To learn more about Green Mountain at Fox Run, visit us at: http://www.fitwoman.com
Reality Branding - Are You Taking Advantage Of The 40 Year Social Pendulum?
I watched Roy Williams in a quite literally amazing presentation about society's 40-year Pendulum recently. His presentation was a delightful hidden bonus in th...
Australia Honeymoon Vacations - Treasure Down Under!
Australia honeymoon vacations are more than just being the pleasure of being down under. Australia is virtually a paradise on earth. Many of the people hail the...
Life - A Great Lady
A mature man must take on responsibilities throughout his life. Without taking on responsibilities, he would not have a career in the society. Similarly a sensi...
Letting Go of 3G - A Viable Alternative for Asian Carriers
In a shotgum wedding that could be avoided, Asian GSM operators are walking down the ailse towards 3G, when they should be bolting to the door. Even the ones no...
Fear -- The Great Enemy Of Creativity
Creativity is life altering. However, for many it becomes life threatening by bringing about change and we are terrified of change.
How to Invest Your Money
Think carefully on how to invest your money because if you make wrong decisions it could cost you dearly.
The Mindful Shopper: Learning From Your Trendy Mistakes
Got a closetful of long-gone trends? Use your shopping mistakes to see what you REALLY need.
Does Your Voice Lose You Dates?
Humans react viscerally to voice and it is one of the important ways by which we evaluate people. We automatically "tune out" high-pitched, whiny voices and res...
Eating Healthy with a Meat Grinder
Americans consume too much saturated fat and cholesterol in their diets. A meat grinder can help anyone who is looking for a way to control the amount of fat an...
Back to School Savings
Tips to save you money on back to school supplies. Planning and a good shopping strategy are essential to maximize savings on back to school shopping.
Market Your Ezine Properly, So You Grab Every Visitor To Your Website
When marketing ezines, most people use sign-up forms or pop-up forms on a current website. This may not be new to most people, but here's another spin on it. I...
7 Tips To Increase The Success Of Your Online Business
Sometimes working on a few simple things can make a huge difference on the overall profit and success of your online business.
Better Than Sliced Bread… Drop Shipping, The New Home Business Craze
Many of you will probably remember the days when the only way to start a successful home business was to join some sort of multi-level marketing program or sell...
Why Internet Business Cannot Escape from the Clutches of Search Engine
Whether you like it or not, the search engine will always remain the number ONE way for people to find your internet business website. There are practically no...
Feeling Tired? Cant Lose Weight? Tap Into Protein Power!
Exectutives rushing through the day not stopping for lunch? Moms running after small children and surviving on toddler left overs? Women skipping breakfast and ...
6 Must-Have Elements of a Powerful Brochure
Turn your brochure into a powerful sales tool with these 6 easy-to-follow tips.
Lone Wolf to Lead Wolf ---- The Evolution of Leadership
Family owned organizations, both small and large, with succession issues, family preparation and second and third generation leadership issues have been subject...
Every Company, Whether Big or Small, Needs to Obtain a Business Credit Card
As a business person working in a competitive environment, owning a business credit card is crucial, especially in today's world where every credit card company...
What is the Best Stock to Invest In?
If you're like most stock market investors you have struggled with finding the best stocks to invest in.
The Dating Game
The abuse of spin can be found in every facet of human cultural development.
Keeping Your New Baby Safe
After all the baby furniture is purchased, you'll have to start thinking of baby safety supplies. Once your baby becomes mobile (and that's in a few short month...
Re-Developing Your Vision
One of the most important things we can do for our businesses, schools, and organizations is to have vision. Vision being a clear picture of a desired end resul...
Cashing In by Writing How-tos
Many editors love how-to's and buy them regularly. This article tells you what you need to know about finding and developing an idea for a how-to article or boo...
Laser Hair Removal: Am I a Good Candidate? What Do I Need to Know?
Laser hair removal is a fast and effective way to remove hair. It can treat large areas rapidly. Over a period of time all the targeted hair becomes deteriorate...
|
Print this page