Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A. would be the thinnest, trimmest nation in the world, with over 40 million Americans spending billions each year on weight loss products. In fact, the opposite is true. The Center for Disease Control claims that at least 65% of adults are overweight or obese. With the growing list of woes associated with obesity, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, the weight problem in America has become a serious concern. Yet we continue to look to fad diets as the answer to this serious problem - as if living on bacon and eggs, cabbage soup, or low-calorie meal replacement drinks could ever be construed as a healthy solution.
A review of popular diet programs conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, stated that most weight loss programs offered little or no proof that participants were successful in loosing weight or keeping weight off in the long run. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has stated that of the millions of people that diet, less than 5% of those who actually loose weight will be able to keep it off in the years to come. It has been surmised that a dieter may shed approximately 100 pounds in the course of a lifetime, but gain back 120 lbs. One benefit of weight loss organizations, however, was group support. Dieters who joined support groups appeared to loose more weight than those who decided to go it alone.
Fad diets themselves bring with them a plethora of health concerns. Restrictive low calorie diets can be self-defeating. The body's metabolism slows moving the system into energy conservation mode and holding on to every calorie for future use instead of burning it. Precious muscle mass is broken down, and low lethargy occurs. Low carbohydrate diets can result in dehydration and constipation. The risk of heart disease is escalated due to the increase of bad cholesterol found in animal fats. When nutritional integrity of the body is threatened due to the elimination of a particular food group, the dieter is at risk for many health problems including osteoporosis, certain types of cancers, immune system issues, electrolyte imbalances, and eating disorders. And with diets, as opposed to permanent lifestyle changes, the probability of gaining back what you have lost, and then some, is high.
In a culture obsessed with physical perfection perhaps we must evaluate how we think about weight in general. Are we dieting to be healthy, or just thin? If the later is the objective, then further investigation into dieting motivation may be necessary, but if health is the ultimate goal, then looking at lifestyle changes may the place to start. Are you an emotional eater, have a compulsive sweet tooth, or someone who eats out of boredom? Do you eat fresh foods or only things that come in a box, bag, or through a drive-up window? What is the overall condition of your health? Is your lifestyle sedentary or active? What type of physical activities do you enjoy? Questions like these help you build the foundation for creating a customized Non-Diet Diet - a common sense plan for living that will result weight loss, elevated energy levels, and improved health and well-being.
Quick fixes usually result in long term failures, and while the answer to America's weight problem may not come in the form of a magic diet, it need not be extremely complicated either. Maintaining a sensible meal plan, including complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, good fats, fruit and vegetables, and sweets in moderation, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy attitude regarding the weight/health connection may be the simple answer you've been looking for.
Deborah Martin is a writer, life coach, and co-founder of The Woman Project. For more information regarding her Non-Diet Diet and other programs visit her website at http://www.dreamlearncreate.com .
house refresh service Lincolnshire ..During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
Imagine you're a cell.Inside your body runs the machinery that... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
A hundred years ago, life was very different here on... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More
(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More
Are you sick and tired of the confusion about our... Read More
Meal sizes and frequency are very important. Over the years... Read More
It slows ageing, promotes healthy vision, has anti-cancer properties, increases... Read More
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
Omega-3 appear to reduce the risk of heart attack. A... Read More
Some fats are good for you. Your body can't function... Read More
Nutrition facts have become a part of everyday life because... Read More
"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
I would like to dispel some of the myths and... Read More
It is shocking how many people are not taking advantage... Read More
Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
I read a lot about the topics of health and... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
The natural antioxidants in Oat Bran can significantly reduce blood... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More
1. Water. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. The majority... Read More
Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
Your fiber intake is a critical factor in weight loss... Read More
(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More
Finding simple ways to reduce my waistline is always a... Read More
Nutrition |