Quick-fix tactics may do more harm than good
Last month, many people made the classic New Year’s resolution to lose weight to finally achieve the mystical, illustrious beach body. One month into 2013, the nearly 60 percent destined to blunder are beginning to fall. The mistake that many individuals are making is choosing to follow a diet in lieu of understanding and developing beneficial eating habits. Diets cause the cascade of frustration and anger of goals not being reached and the development of additional problems.
Diets are temporary. Some dieters fail simply because they have placed their targets within the scopes of a short-term interval, sending dieters into a cycle of losing the weight and putting it back on. Diets that restrict the variety of foods consumed deceive the body into believing it is enduring a famine. This causes the metabolism to engage into a slothful, energy-conserving state. Eating salads exclusively for a month will cause a calorie deficit, resulting in weight loss. But once the weight loss has been achieved, reverting to normal eating habits will result in the weight being regained. Since the metabolism has been reduced to a lower state, even more weight will be gained than originally lost.
Eliminating foods indiscriminately deprives the body of essential nutrients, causing more than just weight problems. The proper balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates will be lopsided depending on the type of diet, and the amount of vitamins and minerals available for the body could be severely diminished. Missing nutrients can cause the degradation of health in vital parts of the body including the heart, brain, bones and bowels. In addition to the development of diseases, imbalanced nutrition can cause a decrease in energy levels and disrupt sleeping patterns.
It should be evident that following diets that do not provide proper nutrition results in a vicious cycle for dieters. The goal that should be set from the outright is the development of healthy eating habits.
Weight loss is merely the tip of the iceberg. Eating properly provides more energy. Picture waking up each morning wide awake and not needing coffee (lose weight and save money). Along with physical energy, mental energy levels increase, providing a clearer sense of concentration. Proper nourishment also keeps emotional health in check, helping to prevent mood swings and irritability. Lastly, many diseases can be prevented, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, certain cancers and more.
If your goal is to lose weight before spring break arrives, don’t fall into the frustration that accompanies many quick-fix diets. Take the time to understand what your body needs in order to lose extra weight while providing for the overall health. You might just end up looking and feeling better overall.