No more crazy diets!

It’s hard to find a magazine these days that isn’t full of crazy diets promising you the body of your dreams. More often than not, these diets are promising unrealistic and unmaintainable results. But don’t feel bad if you’ve fallen for them at some stage – the advertising is very clever, and often even a hot celebrity is used as a marketing tool. Why wouldn’t you be tempted? Like everything though, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you’re considering a diet that mentions any of the following – tread carefully!!

• One that promised a quick fix
• One that excludes or severely restricts food groups or nutrients, such as carbohydrates
• One that makes claims based on a single study or testimonials only
• One that provides bars or shakes as your meals
• One that includes diet or weight loss pills
• I think you get the message.

My belief is that everything your body needs can and should come from real food. Meal replacements are refined, usually not very enjoyable, anti-social and hard to maintain. If you are like me and love to eat – why would you spend every lunch time forcing down a meal-replacement shake instead of enjoying a nutrient-rich meal that you can look forward to eating? Why would you prepare a beautiful meal for your family, only to sit down with a tasteless bar or shake? Surely the better option is to learn about nourishing your body, enjoy eating great food knowing that at the same time you’re looking after yourself.

One question I like to ask people is “How long can you maintain this diet” – if it’s only very short term, then chances are your results will only be short-term too. And for me, to lose weight and then put it all back on would make me pretty miserable. So we need to be very wary of ‘quick fixes’ or rapid weight loss claims. Clever marketing can play with our emotions and we can be easily convinced that fad diets are the best thing for us.

Here’s a few reasons why you should avoid them:

• Dehydration
• Weakness and fatigue
• Nausea and headaches
• Constipation
• Inadequate vitamin and mineral intake

Also keep in mind – any initial weight loss on these diets is usually not fat – it’s often water and lean muscle – which is not at all what we want. Very restricted calories can lead to the body breaking down muscle for energy, which will in turn lower our metabolism. With a slow metabolism, when you go back to normal eating again you’ll put all the weight straight back on. Sad right?!

If you’re currently on a restricted, processed, unbalanced diet for weight loss, then I would highly recommend you switch to a healthy eating plan that fits with your goals and lifestyle, is packed with nutrients, and can be maintained. As fad diets cannot be maintained, continuing to experiment with them will have you yo-yo dieting for the rest of your life. Eating great is easier than you think. All you need is an open-mind, and a strong desire to look after and love your body. You will feel better, look better and be confident that you can finally maintain your healthy weight once and for all – without the pressure of being on a highly restrictive diet.

And if you’ve been telling yourself that you’re ‘too busy’ or ‘don’t have time’ to eat well – MAKE time – that’s no excuse!!

If you want a hand, I LOVE to talk about food and would love to help you on your way. I offer 30 or 60 min Nutrition Sessions! (30 mins is best for a follow up/tune up session, 60 mins best for first time consultation).

Please let me know if you are sick of the diets, sick of your weight going up and down, sick of starting and searching for new diets all the time, and want to get on track once and for all!!

Paula

www.beyourbestpt.com.au

PS – There is a place for very low calorie diets (VLCD) such as meal replacements for anyone with a medical condition who needs to lose a lot of weight – this would need to be discussed with your doctor.