Why Diets Fail
September 22nd 2006 00:59
Ever had a new years resolution to lose weight, or watch your diet the coming year, only to find yourself at the Macca's drive thru in a week? I have.
Fad diets, like a lot of religions, give the impression that this is the only way, we are your only salvation, ditch all others and use only this one, or you will die a long slow, and hellish death. (OK a bit extreme but you know what I mean). I think the reason a lot of 'magazine diets' fail is that they leave so little room for error and promote guilt when the dieter, being human, has a little slip and lives on the edge by having a hamburger or a hot dog.
I suggest the key to changing the way you eat is to do it a little at a time. For instance, if you eat take away 4 nights a week, cut it back to an achiveable goal of say, having it only twice a week for the first month. When you can manage this, maybe cut it down to only once a week, on the weekends (Friday night while watching the footy in my case). If you don't exercise much at all, start out with small goals at first. Perhaps walking 3 afternoons a week (or morning, whenever you can), and if this is easy then slip in a gym workout or a run or a swim to compliment it. When it comes to meals, try starting with one particular meal of the day and getting that right first. Lets say breakfast, if you don't eat it, your first goal could be to start having breakfast! If you drink bugger all water during the day, maybe you could start by having a glass first thing when you wake up and a few more during the day. Get my drift about setting achiveable goals?
And finally, there's no room for guilt in dieting, because sooner or later you will give in to your mind and eat something that you know you probably shouldn't but no one will see so what the heck. (like a piece of deep fried chicken or a greasy chico roll, mmmmm chiiiiiiicccooooo - in my best Homer Simpson voice) Be easy on yourself when sticking to changes in your diet, but not too easy!!! MB
Fad diets, like a lot of religions, give the impression that this is the only way, we are your only salvation, ditch all others and use only this one, or you will die a long slow, and hellish death. (OK a bit extreme but you know what I mean). I think the reason a lot of 'magazine diets' fail is that they leave so little room for error and promote guilt when the dieter, being human, has a little slip and lives on the edge by having a hamburger or a hot dog.
I suggest the key to changing the way you eat is to do it a little at a time. For instance, if you eat take away 4 nights a week, cut it back to an achiveable goal of say, having it only twice a week for the first month. When you can manage this, maybe cut it down to only once a week, on the weekends (Friday night while watching the footy in my case). If you don't exercise much at all, start out with small goals at first. Perhaps walking 3 afternoons a week (or morning, whenever you can), and if this is easy then slip in a gym workout or a run or a swim to compliment it. When it comes to meals, try starting with one particular meal of the day and getting that right first. Lets say breakfast, if you don't eat it, your first goal could be to start having breakfast! If you drink bugger all water during the day, maybe you could start by having a glass first thing when you wake up and a few more during the day. Get my drift about setting achiveable goals?
And finally, there's no room for guilt in dieting, because sooner or later you will give in to your mind and eat something that you know you probably shouldn't but no one will see so what the heck. (like a piece of deep fried chicken or a greasy chico roll, mmmmm chiiiiiiicccooooo - in my best Homer Simpson voice) Be easy on yourself when sticking to changes in your diet, but not too easy!!! MB
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Comment by MichaelB
Diet Dog