Weight Loss Diets

Why weight loss diets usually lead to yo-yo weight gain.. 

More often than not, when we think of losing weight we think of weight loss diet plans but with so many diets out there, how on earth can we possibly know which are and aren’t worth trying?

The problem is, many of the weight loss diet plans we hear about are actually little more than than clever marketing ideas that do nothing when it comes to helping us maintain a healthy weight in the longer term.  You know when you start the diet that you can’t live on grapefruit or cabbage soup for the rest of your life - so what happens to your weight when you stop?

The result of such diet plans is usually yo-yo weight gain, which isn’t a healthy way of living.   In fact, it’s actually better to be a little overweight rather than to have constantly fluctuating weight.

The one we all remember - the Atkins Diet

One of the most popular weight loss diet plans available today is "The Atkins Diet".  As everyone knows this low-carbohydrate diet was developed during the 1970s by Dr Robert C Atkins.  His book, "Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution" has been a world-wide bestseller.

Dr Atkins’ theory is that by eating a diet that’s low in carbohydrates, the metabolism is switched from burning glucose to burning fat.

 

Although The Atkins Diet is marketed as focusing on safe weight loss, it certainly isn’t without side-effects.   Nonetheless it does seem to work for many people and  the whole approach has been updated recently in the  "new" Atkins diet program.  So do it if it works for you to kick start your weight loss campaign - but remember it can never be a long term solution.

As with all diets the key question is - what happens when you stop?  At some point you will need to revert to a balanced diet and you need to make sure its one you can follow for the rest of your life.

We recommend the totally free eat less and exercise more plan..

Quite simply, eating sensibly and taking enough exercise is the best diet plan available.   Not only that but adopting this simple plan is totally free and it comes with a hundred percent cast iron guarantee of success.

There’s absolutely no doubt that if your intake of calories exceeds what you burn off, you will gain weight; if it’s about equal, you’ll maintain your weight.  If - and only if - you take in less calories than you burn will you lose weight.  It doesn’t matter what diet plan you follow unless it conforms to that simple rule you just won’t lose weight.

Help in following the eat less - exercise more plan..

We all know deep down that there is no magic way to lose weight and that the only way to do it successfully is to eat less and take more exercise.  But many of us need help in making the lifestyle changes that go with that simple commitment.  Here’s some tips to get you started:

Set realistic long term goals - if you expect too much of your weight loss diet in the short-term you’ll just be heading for disappointment and yet another failed attempt at dieting. 


Don’t give up if you ‘relapse’ - you may eat a lot more than you should one day and feel guilty and angry with yourself.  You may feel like giving up because you’ve ‘failed’.  You haven’t - remember all you’ve done is take in more calories than you burn for just one day.  Your total weight loss will depend on what you do over a long period of time. Just go back to your healthy eating plan the next day and don’t worry about it


Learn about nutrition. By ensuring that you’re eating healthy foods that are low in calories you’ll lose weight more easily


Make long term small changes to your eating habits - eating only fruit for 10 days is simply not sensible nor is any diet that can’t be continued beyond the "diet" period.  If you are overweight you need to make permanent changes to what you are eating and how much exercise you take so the changes have to be things you are happy to live with - forever.

Don’t skip meals - it’s easy to believe that we’re ’saving calories’ by skipping meals but the truth is, the body will believe that famine’s on its way and will react by storing fat.
Your weight is more likely to increase if you miss meals! Remember that rapid weight loss is not the healthiest way to lose weight. Slowly but surely is the way to go. 


Fool yourself - use a smaller dinner plate and the portion sizes will look bigger automatically.  Take less than you think you want - providing you eat slowly - you probably won’t want seconds! 


Chew your food properly - it’s better for your digestion and eating more slowly will enable you to recognize the ‘full’ feeling in your stomach.  Bolting food down or rushing your meals is a surefire way to eat too much and get indigestion.  


Get some support if that helps you personally - If you’re a person who finds it easier when you diet as part of a group, weight loss clubs can be helpful, as can weight loss online - especially if combined with an exercise program. There are a number of website dedicated to helping and supporting members achieve their target weight.


How and with whom you follow a safe weight loss diet is largely a matter of common sense combined with personal choice. As long as you make sure you have your nutritional needs covered and take enough exercise, the rest is up to you.