Jennifer, a middle-aged single mother with one six-year-old
daughter, has been skipping sweets for a few weeks now. She's
also become a stickler for portion control. She feels as if
she's eating less than ever, and she's been diligently
exercising for an hour at a time at least four days a week. Yet,
she hasn't lost a single pound. The question is, "Why?"
This is a dilemma which affects dieters the world over. They
think they are taking the steps necessary to lose weight, but
nothing seems to be happening. In essence, they are trapped in a
dieting rut and they don't know how to free themselves. As a
result, they become frustrated and depressed and may then engage
in binge eating.
One of the problems with diets is that they are often
standardized. As a result, they don't take into consideration
your individual physiology and metabolism. They provide a
cookie-cutter approach to weight loss--an approach which may not
work in your individual case. As a result, an increasing number
of people are turning to dieticians to formulate a person weight
loss strategy for them.
This process has been made easier through the Internet, where
you can correspond with a dietician any time of the day or night
via e-mail. The dietician can also act as your personal coach,
helping you through your dieting dilemmas.
Another reason that you may be failing at your diet is because
of a lack of support. You may have family members who can eat
whatever they want and seemingly not gain a pound. As a result,
they may fill your refrigerator with junk food, leading you into
temptation. Also, you may feel as if you have no one to turn to
in order to discuss your weight problems. In order to solve this
problem, many individuals look to psychotherapists to help them
with their food-related issues.
This can be particularly important if an individual has turned
to purging in an effort to combat their weight problems. Bulimia
is a serious disease which must be treated in order to ensure
the good health of the patient. Thankfully, there are a number
of treatment programs throughout the U.S. specifically focusing
on bulimia.
Yet another reason for diet failure is hidden calories. You may
literally be consuming calories and not even realize it. For
instance, the frappucinos that are so popular today are loaded
with calories--as many as 600 in a single serving! You may also
be indulging in sugary sodas--another source of extra calories.
By taking a few simple steps, such as eliminating the exotic
coffee drinks from your diet and substituting skim milk for
whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the hidden calories
that are denying you dieting success.
Lack of consistency can also be a diet-killer. You might go on
a diet for a while, then quit before you've made any measurable
progress. It's only natural to want to see quick results. The
problem is that healthy weight loss involves losing only a
couple of pounds a week. That means you'll have to stay on your
diet for months before you see appreciable weight loss.
Discouraging? It can be, but if you keep a positive attitude you
can achieve your ideal weight.
You may also be more successful in your dieting if you consider
it to be a lifestyle change. Therefore, your diet becomes a meal
plan for life. This means that you must change the way you look
at food. It is designed to be fuel for your body, and nothing
more. As a result, you should not turn to food to make you feel
better or to provide you with a sense of comfort.
A lifestyle change implies commitment; it means that you are
prepared to follow the plan for the long haul. If you feel as if
you cannot be on your diet for any appreciable length of time,
perhaps it's time to consider a different diet. Your aim
ultimately should be not simply to lose weight, but to become
healthier. A fad diet will not allow you to reach that
milestone. Therefore, you must choose your diet carefully.
About the author:
As a Teacher of Sport and Physical Education, Tony Robinson has
a keen interest in Health and Weight Loss issues. For handy
hints and tips for weight loss visit
http://www.weight-loss-arena.com
