It’s Official: Dieting DOESN’T Work
- Why dieters end up worse off
- Three alternative bulletproof tactics
Yesterday I found a television show that actually highlighted the truth about dieting. The show was called “Super Slimmers” on Channel 4.
I’m sure the media attention will be about the shock value of the program but there was NOTHING revolutionary about it.
The show was case studies of people who lose weight (in fact, drastic amounts of weight). Rather unsurprisingly, they quickly gained the weight back. We are talking about people who lost up to 15 stone so some serious changes.
It’s not exactly the message that the weight loss companies will tell you. The prospect of losing vast amounts of weight is lucrative to most people without any thought given to what it entails and the end outcome (which, can lead to ending up in a worse position than when you started).
Many of these companies advocate shakes and rather worryingly, a daily calorific intake of 500 calories per day which is detrimental for your health. One guy was expending nearly 2,000 calories a day and only consuming 500 – obviously they would lose weight but it’s not healthy or sustainable.
These may seem ideal for losing weight quickly but they will wreak havoc with your hormonal system. The mention of leptin (a digestive enzyme which suppresses appetite) being messed up is frequent throughout the show.
A startling fact is that 40% of dieters end up with more weight than when they started dieting! In other words, people feel ashamed and embarrassed enough to try and lose weight, then despite doing everything (including some severe sacrifices) feel worse for having tried and feel helpless.
The good news is that an enjoyable and sustainable routine can be created and that’s what RYPT is all about. Small changes (which become habits) and have a greater result over the long term.
^ that is the key to sustainable weight loss.
I’m sure that you can see by now, losing a serious amount of weight and quickly is associated with serious calorific deficits (low food intake), vast amounts of exercise and a plan that only works when you follow it.
I firmly believe that psychology plays a huge role in losing weight too. The show illustrated the ups and downs of losing weight from feeling great to the depression associated with diets.
There is so much science behind weight loss that I’m not surprised most people are lost and go for the popular market names.
If you actually wish to succeed then you need to change your habits, attitudes and lifestyle.
So what can you do?
1) Bad news
The more you do over a short space of time means the more you’ll need to do in the longer run to keep the weight off.
In fact just about the only success story of the show was from a converted fitness model who worked out two hours every day after losing weight.
For most people that is simply not sustainable or at least not enjoying it for long.
Similarly, when it comes to diet, hormones can be out of sync. Drastic changes will mean your body is forced to adapt quickly and may not necessarily result in long-term success.
Above all, don’t focus on the numbers on the scales, concentrate on how you feel instead – if you become number obsessed, you’ll soon become fixated.
Slow and steady wins the race.
2) Exercise
Changes to your exercise resume do not need to be huge. Simple things like walking, taking this to use, taking the stairs and small lifestyle changes would result in massive improvements in your overall health.
Personally, I have begun cycling to work every day and noticed a massive change in my cardiovascular fitness. In fact, I don’t need to run as much to maintain my fitness which saves me time at the weekends.
Small adjustments to your mindset and activity levels will work wonders.
3) Why
I am a big believer in finding out why. Why are you doing what you’re doing? What foods do you really need to lose weight? Why do so many people feel diets? Why do you diets not work?
Now I appreciate that most people don’t have the time to study a degrees worth of information but giving the RYPT Facebook page a like will keep you in the loop. Also pick sources that you can trust and learn from them – ideally three or four different people or ideas and focus on those.
My recommendations would be:
The Bright Side – they even have an up with lifestyle tips and lots of valuable information
Strengtheory – Science but simply explained. The website is ideal for picking and choosing bits of information in accessible format.
Healthy Viral 24 (Facebook) – aside from some anecdotal articles, a range of infographics and well explained scientific rational, it’s ideal for learning things quickly.
Examine.com – if you are ever in doubt about supplements or most health products, this bible of knowledge should be your first port of call. Only based on science, examine is amazingly thorough and readable.
February’s fitness hack of the day is back again at 18.00 – like to get involved!
What is your experience with dieting; did it work for you? Let me know in the comments…
Ross
