If you have ever tried to lose weight and had some success only to regain the weight or perhaps never really lost any at all, well, you’re not alone and it’s certainly not your fault! In a world of typical diet programs combined with the tactics of the food industry and the overall response from the medical profession it is difficult to succeed.
Diets, by and large, just don’t seem to work longterm. They tend to focus on short-term weight loss and not an overall healthier lifestyle. Diets can even create anxiety by restricting food and a craving for food that resembles addiction. Self denial and counting calories rely too heavily on willpower that is difficult to maintain.
The food industry doesn’t help either and it’s not just through advertising or the enticing packaging they use. The engineering of our food is a complex and scientific process utilizing chemists, physicists and even neuroscientists. Patents held by the food industry provide a sobering reality to how most of the foods in a typical grocery store are actually designed to keep us buying more.
Considering the obesity epidemic facing us in North America one would think the medical profession would be a valuable resource for those looking to lose weight. Unfortunately, it typically isn’t the case. Most Doctors have little nutritional training for counselling, plus their time is more and more taxed with the increased number of clinical items they are dealing with such as diseases, medications, and tests.
2. No Willpower Required!
Focusing on what you shouldn’t be doing (or eating) creates too much negative energy and stress. It’s mentally draining. Willpower isn’t finite and you only have a limited supply every day which means it may not be there when you need it the most. Willpower is like a muscle, tax it too much and it will become tired.
The solution is to commit to healthy eating is a lifestyle. It doesn’t include depriving yourself great food or even tasty treats… in fact, once you start eating healthier foods you will find yourself wanting less of the old foods that you loved. If you try eating something you loved before you will quite often find that it’s are no longer tasty at all. Willpower or even counting calories are not something that’s needed when you are eating plenty of the right foods. Lots of vegetables, protein, healthy fats, nuts & seeds and some fruits. You can pretty much eat to your hearts content with the right combination. In fact, it’s extremely hard to overeat and gain weight with right foods.
3. No Crazy Exercise Programs!
If you want to lose weight what is the first thing everyone learns? Eat less and exercise more! It turns out that as a weight loss tool the effects of exercise is either limited or not at all. Now, please do not think we are saying exercise isn’t vital to your overall health. It is. In fact, it is absolutely necessary to have daily movement and exercise not just for your body and heart but also your brain.
That said, clinical trials have questioned the effectiveness of exercise to help you lose weight. Studies have shown it’s hard to create a calorie deficiency with exercise and takes a huge volume of exercise to do so. While exercise is probably good to help you maintain your weight, it takes a long time to help you lose weight.
In addition, a 2009 study showed that exercise increased participants food intake because they thought they burned more calories than they did or they were actually hungrier. A single slice of pizza can undo the calories burned in a one hour workout. As well, evidence suggest that some people tend to slow down after a workout and use less energy.
The food industry loves to portray exercise as a means to lose weight, while, of course, continuing to eat and drink their products. Companies like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Nestle and more have either used this strategy or lobbied for it.
if you decide to take on weight loss, exercise is needed for overall health but just don’t count in your actual weight loss strategy. Keep in mind… you can’t out run a bad diet!
