3 Reasons Diets Fail and How-to Lose Weight FOR GOOD!

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The dieting craze has been going on since man stopped having to chase his food to eat a meal. It came after we began sitting still, utilizing our brains, investing precious hours to promote our abilities through newfound technology (computers). Then, we gain pounds because our bodies aren’t burning the calories we consume. So, we start “dieting” which is the act of restricting certain foods. I DON’T LIKE THAT! As Anthony Hopkins says, “...eat the delicious food”, and I think that’s what we all should do! Here, I’m going to give you the 3 top reasons diet fail and the ONE simple diet solution that absolutely works without sacrificing any of the foods you love.

1. Dieting is not a lifelong solution

Say you start dieting, and after 30 days have lost weight...YAY! You stay on the diet and after 60 days have lost even more weight. BACKWARDS FLIP! Then maybe another month and you’ve made it 3 months on your new diet and perhaps lost 50 pounds or more. You reach your goal weight but then....6 months later, you’ve gained back 20, or maybe the 50 you lost. This happens ALL THE TIME! And goes without saying is DEVASTATING. What happened? Easy answer. You didn’t stay on the “diet”. When we lose weight, most often it’s because we’ve restricted calories and/or our bodies have transitioned to burning existing fat for food. But, lets be real, unless you’re staunch vegan which I don’t agree with (hello BBQ lol), do not expect that your new diet to shed the weight is the one you’ll die with.

2.     Too many foods are “off limits”

Restricting food like candy, pasta, ice cream, mayonnaise is doable but not fun. Avoiding them altogether to conform to diet requirements is impossible over the long-haul as mentioned above. Fail #2, we want to eat certain foods but “can’t” on a special diet. Can you imagine not being able to eat fruit? Spaghetti? Garlic bread? Bacon? Or something else? Maybe you can for a short time but unless you are narrowly focused on the results you want, which are achievable, you will undoubtedly, want or crave that food which you “cannot” have. Lame. Not to mention, certain fad diets have many foods that people just don’t like. Also lame. And who wants to go through the hassle of figuring out all the substitutes? Not me.

3.     Our mental health is compromised

When we begin dieting to lose weight, we are in fact trying to conform to what we believe is the “look” of health. Furthermore, drastically reducing calories can have a severe, negative effect on our brain and its’ processes. If we do slip, we beat ourselves up for failing and sabotaging our efforts. Then, we binge because we already failed so we’re like “Screw it!” I’ll just eat it anyway. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves us feeling worse then when we lost those first couple pounds in the first place. Yo-yo dieting is common and not healthy. Results are possible but we should be in a state of euphoria and splendor. Our bodies should be rejoicing “I feel wonderful and healthy!” NOT, “I’m starving and feel like crap”. I won’t even get into fasting because I don’t believe in it. That is a mental exercise more then for physical benefit.

So how can you start to shed weight for good?

Here’s the thing, dieting does work. Wrestlers have used it for centuries to stand on a scale in a certain weight class. It is not a life-long solution and I just don’t recommend it. Period.

There is ONE simple solution which is the key to absolving fat and losing weight for life.  Reduce calories. This is best done by making choices that then turn into habits (choices we don’t have to think about).

I will not ever suggest to stop eating certain foods. All food should be enjoyed and makes for a more fulfilling life. Food is fuel and should never be looked at as a bad thing.

Eat the notoriously bad food in moderation. You’re entire days’ food consumption should not be crap. Your primary food should be whole, ideally, think meats, fruits, vegetable and yes….potatoes or rice! Psychologically, when we deny ourselves certain food, we want it more. So have the dessert, just don’t have dessert x3 lol.

While I am not a fan of fad diets, the one upside to them is that they can help you understand portion control, better food choices, and great combinations of proteins, fats, vegetables, etc.

There is one particular “fad” diet that does actually work and is moderately healthy! I know, I know, why would I consider? Many close friends and family of mine have tried it and it’s worked so I’ll offer here. BUT, remember, this is not a life-long solution, so I’ll include this article of daily hacks to help reduce daily calories without sacrificing and altogether avoid the yo yo dieting or unnecessary fad diets.

Cheers friends! And happy eating!