Do Diets Work for Weight Loss?

What is the best way to lose weight? Have you ever asked yourself if diets really work? Or, another question is, how many diets have you tried, and what has been the result?

The truth about diets

The truth about diets is that they work for a short time. However, any diet that is artificially constructed and limited misses the point. Weight loss is not a one-time event. Weight loss, or weight control, is about changing your attitude towards food, and understanding your body and nutrition. Most diets do not address your own attitudes, habits, and nutritional understanding. So they work for a while, and then the weight comes back.

Some diets are bad.

In addition to diets being a short-term solution, like a band-aid, there are many that can be downright harmful. Limiting yourself to liquids, or certain types of commercial foods, or starving yourself in any way, creates havoc with your body. Your body needs nutrition in a certain amount to keep you alive. Forcing yourself to adapt doesn’t work. In fact it is proven that when you are under-eating, you actually cannot lose weight. The body begins to hoard fat because it things it is being starved.

It reminds us of an old joke from the Sufi tradition about Nasrudin. He had a donkey and decided to teach it to each less. Each day he gave it less and less food. One day, he came outside to find his donkey dead. A neighbor passed by and commiserated. Nasrudin agreed, and shook his head sadly. “Yes, too bad, just when he had learned to live on nothing.”

What works better than diets for weight loss?

To make a real difference in your weight, the main ingredients are exercise, healthy eating habits, and water. Exercise of at least 20 minutes a day is essential. Being sedentary, sitting at a computer or a desk, your metabolism does not burn off the calories that you consume. Healthy eating habits includes having three meals a day, and a few healthy snacks in between. Many people will try and lose weight by skipping meals. This never works. A good breakfast is essential, and should have protein in it as well. Finally, water is a great boon to weight loss. You will be amazed at how easily you can lose weight just by adding 8 glasses of water each day. Look into some of the weight loss programs such as WeightWatchers for a true lifestyle change in your eating habits. And take advantage of support groups such as GoalTribe.com to find allies that will help you lose weight, and keep it off.

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