WHY DON’T DIETS WORK?
Every year, well even every month, there is a new trend/fad that circulates the internet & nutrition world. Typically someone tries a style of eating, it works for them, then they pass it along. Another cause of these trends are that people find nutrition information, fabricate it to make sense to them, apply it, & then again, share this information with others. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, well, if it worked for them, or if they did research on the approach, what’s the issue?
When it comes to “dieting” & structuring the way a persons eats, there is no one size fits all. What works for one person, may not work for other. You see this daily when you hear some people state that keto, for example, worked great for them, & others state that it wasn’t suitable for their lifestyle. This is the perfect example of why one size doesn’t fit all. Often times these fads are created by people who are professional diet experimenters, aka, yo-yo dieters. Their approach to weight loss isn’t science based. Yes, we want experience based information, however, information & practices still need to be accurate & safe for human practices.
Typically a “diet” is pretty extreme & restrictive. The way the human brain works is if you restrict something, in this case food, your body will crave it more. You may not give in for awhile, but when you do, you have ZERO self control & this “taste” usually leads to you indulging. After a case of indulging, guilt follows, & you typically continue NOT following the diet that you were previously on. Now what? Back to square one you go. A lot of fad diets & trends have people eliminating or severely reducing certain food groups. Without proper guidance & supplementation, this can lead to starvation within the body, & nutrition deficiencies. Now, when you “cheat” or have an off day & revert from this diet, as soon as you re-introduce those foods or higher amounts of certain foods, your body acts like a scavenger. It will hold on to what you ate in fear that it will never have a chance to consume that item again since it has been deprived for so long. When I say so long, this can simply be 7 days. Our bodies depend on our intake & adapt very quickly as it is forced to maintian our lifestyle.
I mean, this is an example & quick explanation as to why diets do not work. Now, on the contrary, a lifestyle change is COMPLETELY different. This allows you to still enjoy the foods that you love, but perhaps in smaller amounts & less frequently. Adapting a lifestyle change also grants you the opportunity to establish a better relationship with food. You can enjoy a cupcake without the guilt. Within a lifestyle change, of course a shift in intake takes place, however, it is done in a way that you don’t have to starve yourself or severely restrict. Also, a lifestyle change is MORE sustainable than a diet because it is built with the intent of being a permanent change. A diet is typically set for a certain amount of time. What do you do when the diet is over? How do you maintain the weight that you lost? EXACTLY.
Establishing a healthy relationship with food & creating a true lifestyle change takes time. It is not recommended to begin extreme changes overnight. Studies show that when you implement too many changes at once, the chances of you reverting back to old ways is highly increased. As a dietitian, I always recommend my clients to start slow & small. Often times we want to go fast to speed up the time until we see results, but we forget that those results can dwindle away just as fast.
Embracing the journey one step at a times aids in enjoying the journey. You will learn so much about nutrition & your body as you take the time out to navigate what works best for you. There is no one body built the same. The same goals that you are wanting to accomplish through a diet can very much so be accomplished through behavioral changes & a lifestyle change. By doing it this route, you will establish changes that become habitual & literally a part of your life forever— not seasonal or temporary like diets. If you are interested in learning more about your body & how you can make this lifestyle change, check out our 1:1 coaching programs. As a dietitian, I walk & journey with you as I guide you through these changes. All changes will be tailored towards the goals that we establish together. It’s never too late to make a change & become a better version of yourself.
Earnestine Jackson, MS, RDN, LD