Archive for January, 2011

Why Most Diets Fail

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Individuals have varied preferences and different things motivate each person. Each of us also has our own reasons for why we go on diets. But sometimes, we fail. So, what constitutes a “failed” diet? A diet has failed when you have started a certain regimen but have stopped after a while. It can also refer to a person who has not been able to maintain a specific weight range, particularly for those who have completed weight loss diets.

A dieter must have the motivation to follow his diet plan. Hence, before picking out a specific regimen, he must first evaluate his preferences, lifestyle and goals. First, choose a diet plan that is easy to follow, especially if you are new to dieting. Pick out a plan that also incorporates the foods you love eating so that you wouldn’t feel so deprived. Sometimes, when a person feels deprived of his favorite foodstuffs, he will feel depressed and less inspired to follow his new diet. Lifestyle is also a big issue. Consider your daily activities so that you will be able to properly incorporate your latest diet plans to your daily routine. Sometimes, people get too busy that they might find it difficult to fit their new regimen in. Then, there are also appropriate diet programs for those with sedentary or active lifestyles, such as a diet with physical activity for the former and a protein and carbohydrate rich diet plan for the latter. There are also certain diets for those with diseases, such as heart diseases or anemia. For those with heart problems, fiber-rich diet plus raw fruits and vegetables are advised, while iron rich foods are best for those with anemia. For people who desire to shed some pounds, there are simple diets that one can follow every day. One can ask his doctor for a daily diet chart, and this often takes into consideration physical activity and condition.

Diets also fail when people do not eat enough calories to maintain their health. This usually happens on crash diets or diets not approved by health care providers. When a person eats below the minimum daily calorie requirement of about 1,200 calories per day, he becomes undernourished. Being undernourished has many psychological and physical effects. One may feel constantly depressed, and he may not be able to function at his best. There are also diets that eliminate an entire food group, like the no carbohydrate diet plan. This is not advisable as all the elements within the Food Pyramid must be included for a holistic approach to dieting. Hence, it is very important to ask for professional advice before going through a certain diet to be steered towards the right one for you.

When you decide to go on a diet, you must be prepared to change your eating habits, as well as your practices. It is best to augment diet regimens with exercise, like walking or running. You must realize that these changes aren’t temporary. It is faulty to think that after dieting, one can go back to “eating normally,” when the normal or habitual practice was not working for you in the first place.