| Why
Your Diet May Not Be Working!
by: Nishanth
Reddy
Jennifer, a middle-aged single mother
with one six-year-old daughter, has been skipping
sweets for a few weeks now. She's also become
a stickler for portion control. She feels as if
she's eating less than ever, and she's been diligently
exercising for an hour at a time at least four
days a week. Yet, she hasn't lost a single pound.
The question is, "Why?"
This is a dilemma which affects
dieters the world over. They think they are taking
the steps necessary to lose weight, but nothing
seems to be happening. In essence, they are trapped
in a dieting rut and they don't know how to free
themselves. As a result, they become frustrated
and depressed and may then engage in binge eating.
One of the problems with diets is
that they are often standardized. As a result,
they don't take into consideration your individual
physiology and metabolism. They provide a cookie-cutter
approach to weight loss-an approach which may
not work in your individual case. As a result,
an increasing number of people are turning to
dieticians to formulate a person weight loss strategy
for them. This process has been made easier through
the Internet, where you can correspond with a
dietician any time of the day or night via e-mail.
The dietician can also act as your personal coach,
helping you through your dieting dilemmas.
Another reason that you may be failing
at your diet is because of a lack of support.
You may have family members who can eat whatever
they want and seemingly not gain a pound. As a
result, they may fill your refrigerator with junk
food, leading you into temptation. Also, you may
feel as if you have no one to turn to in order
to discuss your weight problems. In order to solve
this problem, many individuals look to psychotherapists
to help them with their food-related issues. This
can be particularly important if an individual
has turned to purging in an effort to combat their
weight problems. Bulimia is a serious disease
which must be treated in order to ensure the good
health of the patient. Thankfully, there are a
number of treatment programs throughout the U.S.
specifically focusing on bulimia.
Yet another reason for diet failure
is hidden calories. You may literally be consuming
calories and not even realize it. For instance,
the frappucinos that are so popular today are
loaded with calories-as many as 600 in a single
serving! You may also be indulging in sugary sodas-another
source of extra calories. By taking a few simple
steps, such as eliminating the exotic coffee drinks
from your diet and substituting skim milk for
whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the hidden
calories that are denying you dieting success.
Lack of consistency can also be
a diet-killer. You might go on a diet for a while,
then quit before you've made any measurable progress.
It's only natural to want to see quick results.
The problem is that healthy weight loss involves
losing only a couple of pounds a week. That means
you'll have to stay on your diet for months before
you see appreciable weight loss. Discouraging?
It can be, but if you keep a positive attitude
you can achieve your ideal weight.
You may also be more successful
in your dieting if you consider it to be a lifestyle
change. Therefore, your diet becomes a meal plan
for life. This means that you must change the
way you look at food. It is designed to be fuel
for your body, and nothing more. As a result,
you should not turn to food to make you feel better
or to provide you with a sense of comfort. A lifestyle
change implies commitment; it means that you are
prepared to follow the plan for the long haul.
If you feel as if you cannot be on your diet for
any appreciable length of time, perhaps it's time
to consider a different diet. Your aim ultimately
should be not simply to lose weight, but to become
healthier. A fad diet will not allow you to reach
that milestone. Therefore, you must choose your
diet carefully. |
