As a health advocate, I recognize that one of the best things that individuals who want to optimize wellness can do is change their eating habits. Doing so is often referred to as “going on a diet.” While going on a diet can be very advantageous in many ways, there are several factors that can preclude you from seeing the goals that you want. Whether your ultimate plan is to lose weight or maximize health, the following behaviors can hinder you from doing so:
1. You Don’t Have A Long-Term Eating Plan.
As many health professionals know, one of the problems with going on a diet is that they often provide temporary solutions for problems that need to be addressed with the long term in mind. Many diets are advertised with terms like “Your 21-Day Weight Loss Guide” and offer the consumer a very strict plan that will help them shed unwanted weight fast. And while such diets may initially work, if the consumer does not plan to consume the foods included in the diet for the rest of her or his life, all of the lost weight is likely to creep back up. For this reason, individuals who go on diets need to think critically about how to find healthy foods that they love and can integrate into their daily eating patterns. This is one of the keys to successful dieting because consuming great, delicious foods during the diet helps you develop a positive, long-term habit.
2. You’re Starving Yourself.
Starving yourself is one of the worst health choices you could ever make. As Buzzle notes in listing the dangers of starvation, refusing to eat can entail slower metabolism, loss of muscle, loss of body water, low immunity, and faster weight gain. In analyzing why individuals go on diets that include starvation, it seems clear that one of the primary factors for doing so is the desire to lose weight rapidly. If this is your goal, there are several healthy options you can select. One of them is to add in more healthy, low calorie foods to your diet such as fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods should replace less healthy options such as processed foods that contain additives and preservatives. Additionally, you can supplement your diet with a fitness regimen that helps you burn off calories. An hour of taebo, for example, can burn 600 calories.
3. You Don’t Have A Support System.
You may think that going on a diet isn’t a serious enough enterprise to warrant assistance from others, but it generally is. Unless you have a great degree of self-motivation or are a nutrition expert, attaining help from a dietician or health professional can be of great help to you. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that professionals tend to have the knowledge and experience necessary to lead you in the right direction and identify roadblocks you may be putting in your own path. In addition to hiring a professional to help you perfect your diet plan, make sure you surround yourself with friends and family members who support what you’re doing.
Conclusion
Although beginning a diet is a great way to begin working towards weight loss and optimal health, there are several factors that can preclude you from getting the most out of your new eating patterns. By considering the factors that I have listed above, you can begin making positive changes in your life that help you shed unwanted pounds and walk in great health. Good luck!
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