Eating Disorder Resource centre of Ireland
Why Diet's Don't Work?
Why diets don't work….
It is common knowledge at this stage that diets don't work. If they did why would we need a new one every week! The first three letters (die) should be a give-away about what's ahead!
As previously stated food has very little to do with weight, so going on a diet will have very little effect on your weight. ! Your best diet is one of self discovery, self awareness and self acceptance, combined with self care and self respect. You are also more likely to lose weight if you starve yourself of negative thinking instead of food! The same mechanism that holds onto negative thoughts and feelings, holds onto weight as well Drop the thought and you drop the weight!
As you can see so far, there is very little mention of food! The physical body does not totally take it's shape from what you eat, how you exercise, or what you do with it, however it does respond to the attitude you have of it.
If that doesn't convince you… Diets also don't work because…
- They lower a persons metabolic rate which means it becomes
harder to lose weight.
- They create cravings that most people find hard to control.
- Many have a set weight in mind and feel like they have failed if they do not reach this weight.
- A person may feel the diet hasn't worked before so how is it going to work this time - hence it fails them yet again.
- A person may sabotage their diet because they have a fat/thin conflict. (See details in section on the mental level).
- Diets fail us for weight loss and subsequently weight maintenance.
- Very low calorie diets cause the brain to reset the 'weight thermostat' in the brain, which in turn makes it harder for the body to let go the weight.
- Diet drinks cause an oversurge of insulin, which causes an increase of hunger.
- Many diet foods are laden with sugar, salt, and chemicals to improve their taste, and this causes the body to eventually gain weight !
- Diets cause mental preoccupation with food.
- Deprivation sets up the binge mode of eating.
- Diets deprive the body of essential nutrients which are necessary for concentration. A starved brain cannot function.
- Diets cause depression and frustration and a sense of doom.
- Diets cause a preoccupation with food that decreases your self control which eventually leads to overeating, complete loss of control and then weight increase due to guilt and depressed mood follows.
- Again diets don't work because the food is not the problem. !
The principles of what does work consists of ….
- Challenging old faulty beliefs and thoughts,
- Developing more appropriate emotional responses,
- Fostering correct attitudes,
- Becoming aware of body image issues and challenging them,
- Changing habits that are not working for you,
- Learn skills to manage lifestyle,
- Empower motivation to personal development ,
- Develop awareness on healthy nutritional choices,
- Planning ahead,
- Making small changes - baby steps,
- Having no specific weight goal,
- Learning to deal more effectively with problems.
- The last word on diets is they are not the answer because the food is not the problem.
Suzanne Horgan director & founder Certified Trainer in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders and Obesity Contact Us today..........info@eatingdisorders.ie