Why 99% of Diets Fail
Have you recently tried the juice diet? Low carb? raw food… or going completely vegetarian? If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re wondering why these diets haven’t worked their magic yet. The shocking truth is, none of them work.
Why? Because diets are designed to fail.
Most people don’t realise the immense stress and biological changes the body is put through after a diet. According to Traci Mann, a psychologist who has spent 20 years studying diets at the University of Minnesota, claims that “Diets are only structured to provide short-term benefits”.
Here are some common misconceptions around “Dieting”
Misconception 1: “Diets are all about self-control.”
Reality: Most diets actually trigger hunger. During the process, biological mechanisms react to protect us from starvation. Along with hunger increasing, our metabolism slows down to conserve energy. This is accelerated by eating low-fat, high-carb/sugary foods.
Tip: Use whole, fresh food to satisfy your appetite (and no, that doesn’t mean to ‘overeat’ until you’re feeling stuffed)
Misconception 2: “I have a low-fat diet”
Reality: Scientists have found that it’s not fat that makes you fat, but rather an excess in sugar. The presence of sugar in high volumes is commonly overlooked in everyday foods – fruits, processed carbs, flavoured drinks dairy products etc.
Tip: A recent study on the benefits of low-carb dieting, found that a low-carb (26%), high-fat (43%) diet was more effective for weight loss and increased metabolism. Thus, you shouldn’t fear fat. Instead incorporate it in your meals more often using foods such as avocado, nuts, seeds, coconut oil.
Misconception 3: “You’re winging it”.
Reality: “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail!” Health and an ideal body isn’t something that happens overnight from countless hopes and wishes. To be most beneficial, it needs careful planning and design,. Having all the right foods in the house, meal prepping and/or getting a friend or a few to hop on the health-junkie bandwagon with you, are all great things to consider when planning for a successful, healthy lifestyle.
Tip: Commit to planning your meals and workouts weekly and join a community where you can share your progress such as CrossFit Docklands.
Weight loss isn’t complicated when you educate yourself on the nutritional basics. If you can build up these habits and commit to the hard work, you’ll be flaunting the more ideal, vibrant, energetic ‘you’ in no time