Diet: A special course of food to which a person restricts themselves, either to lose weight or for medical reasons. Every year 45 million Americans plan to go on a diet. That really is a staggering statistic. Although when you consider that two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese it is probably forgivable so many are engaging in the thankless pursuit of dieting.
Aspiring weight losers are continually inundated with eye catching images of men and women from the $61 billion dollar weight loss industry. Add to that countless diets that are promoted on a daily basis – low fat, high fat, low carb, no carb, cleanses and more – and it is no surprise that individuals are unsure of the best way to burn stomach fat or lose weight.
The problem is, most of the diets on the market are simply fads and are not a suitable replacement for healthy eating and sensible portion control. In fact this article by Harriet Brown suggests that 97% of dieters regain everything they lose and some within 3 years.
It that isn’t motivation enough to find an alternative to dieting… here are our top 50 reasons not to go on a diet…
- Diets do not help maintain weight loss long term.
- You’re probably going to gain the weight back – if the researchers are correct.
- Being hungry really sucks.
- Dieting causes food preoccupation.
- Dieting can shift your brain and body into ‘starvation’ mode… reducing your ability to burn stomach fat.
- Diets can make you unhappy.
- Your friends might find you annoying to eat out with.
- Pizza is delicious.
- Dieting is exhausting.
- Dieting can lower your metabolic rate and calorie burning potential.
- Dieting is associated with weight cycling (yoyo dieting).
- Restrictive diets can encourage binge eating.
- Life is short!
- You may feel lethargic, light headed and have difficulty concentrating.
- Dieting can be a precursor to eating disorders.
- Calorie counting is time consuming and frustrating.
- Losing weight won’t necessarily make you healthier.
- Cake.
- ‘Diet’ foods can be boring and tasteless.
- You could end up with a competitive ‘non eating’ culture with your friends.
- You could die. In extreme circumstances dieting has been linked to sudden death.
- You will feel guilty about food.
- Don’t support the weight loss industry… they’re making millions feel bad about their body!
- Dieting sets a poor example to your kids.
- You don’t need to diet to lose weight. Research says: diets don’t work reduce fat from your belly
- Diets are confusing – low fat, low carb, high protein…. which is right?
- Diets are not fun!
- Carbohydrates are not your enemy.
- Diets can create an ‘on or off’ mentality which is unsustainable.
- Dieting isn’t the same as ‘eating healthy’.
- Everything in moderation (including moderation?)
- Dieting comes with a side of guilt.
- Your body will rebel… dieting disrupts your normal body processes.
- Eating fat can be healthy.
- Most diets are overly optimistic.
- Diets encourage moral dilemmas.
- Life is meant to be enjoyed!
- Diets make you feel bad about yourself.
- You should learn to love your body regardless…
- Restrictive diets can mean you’re not getting the vitamins and minerals your body requires for optimum health.
- You’ll feel much healthier combining regular exercise with healthy food choices.
- Losing weight is not the same as ‘toning’.
- Don’t diet just to lose weight really quickly.
- Diets promote short term weight loss.
- Diets can alter the prevalence of two hormones – ghrelin and leptin – that play a vital role in hunger control.
- Your body will learn to operate on fewer calories.
- You may increase your insulin sensitivity, resulting in the prioritisation of glucose for energy and increased fat storage.
- Diets are stressful. An increase in stress and anxiety has been associated with weight gain.
- Depriving yourself is the wrong kind of motivation.
- Lifestyle change is a far more effective alternative to dieting.