Dieting Pitfalls

When we diet, we place unnecessary strain on our body. Of course, if you are overweight, then cutting down on sugary foods and snacks is a good idea, but this shouldn’t be called a diet, as it really necessitates a permanent change of eating habits. However, any nutritional deprivation will express itself through various avenues, such as dry, sallow-looking skin, lifeless hair and cracked, white-spotted nails.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Dieting actually makes you fat! Unbelievable i know, but nevertheless it’s true. Anyone who has dieted for years only to become heavier than ever will agree with me. But why is this? It’s important to realize the fundamentals of dieting. If we go “on” a diet it follows that eventually we must come “off” this same diet. This usually means a return to bad eating habits and lack of exercise.(Not always, but usually!)

When you diet, your body panics and worries about where its next meal is coming from. So, when you do eat, instead of utilizing the food as energy and distributing it to the various organs, the body places this food in fat stores. The body thinks that it may be some time before it receives more food, and is protecting itself against starvation and deprivation. (In women, our fat stores tend to be around our hips, thighs, buttocks and abdomen: in man, it’s mainly the abdomen that stores fat.) However, when you eat regularly, therefore providing yourself with enough food to use as fuel and energy, your body is less likely to store fat as it is confident that there will be another food delivery shortly!

If you get a chance, check out weighins.com. It’s a supportive close-knit community for people wanting to lose weight. With a free membership you can join a weight loss challenge (like the Biggest Loser tv show). You also get a free calorie counter and a personal diet journal. I like it much better than sparkpeople.