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DEL.ICIO.USReally… Diets don’t Work?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the April edition of “American Psychologist,” a new study published states that diets just don’t work for most people (which is an understatement). This comes after just a week or two ago that Atkins is the “best of all diets” talk. So, what does this mean?
Well, simply as it says. Diets don’t work. The reason is quite obvious. You gain the weight back. They also mention in the study not only do you gain the weight back, but you gain more than what you lost.
For years as a fitness consultant I always ask a prospective client the question, “Have you been on a diet?” Of course the answer I get is “Yes.” Then I ask, “Did it work?” Then they will say, “Yes.” Then I ask, “Well, if it worked, then why are you in my office looking to lose weight?” It is at that moment that light-bulb goes off in their brain. As they sit their for a moment they finally laugh and reply, “Well… I guess it really didn’t, did it?”
I give you this illustration to point out that weight loss from diets are temporary. As you may have already learned, much of the “weight” loss is not even fat, but water and muscle.
Other big reasons diets don’t work is that they don’t focus on changing behavior and lifestyle (though they will claim they do). There is no incorporation of a fitness plan to improve metabolism and utilize excess calories. Diets are too strict, so you can’t maintain them and they don’t focus on you (the individual).
Bottom-line is, if you are a dieter, you need to ditch the habit (this is known as Yo-Yo dieting). If you’re planning to go on a diet, don’t do it. Save yourself from the heartache and frustration you feel when you gain it all back. Do the “right” things that you always here about which is supportive nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, and weight training.
Have any thoughts on this subject? Go ahead and share.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Health, In The News, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Weight Loss
Comments
By julie
April 23, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
I disagree. Diets do work. You just have to stay on them forever.
By Dave
April 23, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Publishing this kind of material will discourage people from even trying. If there is no hope then there is no choice for some but to die an early and painful death. Diets do work and stating that they do not just empowers the negative thinkers who are always interjecting the seed of doubt in a dieter. A friend of mine lost 40 lbs and was within 10 lbs of her ideal weight. She met someone at a party who told her that her diet ( low carb) was going to kill her. She has gained back 15 lbs because of the doubt he injected into her thinking. Shame on him! Not having the extra weight and having the self-esteem that comes with success is a great reward.
By Warren
April 23, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
I think that Weight Watchers is a terrific weight loss plan, simply because it encourages all of the things you mention. It tries to develop a lifestyle of healthy eating (without being strict), activity, and then community support as well. I recommend it to all.
By Cletus Snow
April 23, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
I personally think you are full of beans.Five years ago my wife and I weighed a total of 510 pounds today she weighs around 135 and I weigh 210 we continue to watch what we eat and exercise. we lost every pound of the hazardous weight on the Atkins diet,I know many others who who have lost a considerable amount fat.Would you tell an alcholic quitting doesn’t work simply because he fell off the wagon a time or two hell no you wouldn’tyou should encourage him to try again. It seems that if every one was as encouraging as you guys we’d all be fat drunks.
By Kbear
April 23, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Did y’all miss this statement???
Do the “right” things that you always here about which is supportive nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, and weight training.
He’s completely right. Yo-yo dieting (which is what most people do) doesn’t work. You have to find the right balance of exercise and nutrition. What he’s saying is that solely dieting and expecting to do it and then go back to the way you eat doesn’t work. Its common sense.
By Michelle
April 23, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
I dropped 20 pounds doing Atkins and kept them off, because it didn’t mess up my metabolism, also I get a lot of excercise.
By Ada
April 23, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
I think all Kelly meant was ‘yo-yo dieting’ meaning-restricting calories and exercising for a pre-determined amount of time, losing weight on that diet, then going right back to the way you used to eat…is a recipe for disaster. Let’s re-phrase that to “Diets don’t work, lifestyle changes do”.
A diet will work, as long as you don’t go right back to eating bad foods and not exercising. I lost 20 pounds of toxic fat in two weeks on the Master Cleanse detox program, and I continue to keep it off. My secret was adapting to the RAVE lifestyle program after the cleanse. No meat, no dairy lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies! My diet is WAY better than it used to be, and I exercise every day. Six months later, that 20 pound loss has turned into 25 pounds loss…with a lot of added muscle I must add!! I’ve never felt better in my life!
By LR
April 23, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
From another article, “Dieting Most Often Fails in the Long Run”, they make the same point, but don’t manage to be nearly so discouraging. It notes that while dieting may not be associated with long term weight loss, there are a number of strategies — as tracked by the National Weight Loss Registery — that are associated with long term weight loss/ weight maintenance:
— Eat breakfast daily. — Eat a moderately low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. (sorry cletus!) — Keep track of progress through weigh-ins, food diaries. — Get LOTS of exercise — 60 to 90 minutes daily.
By Pam
April 23, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
Actually, I don’t think anything is wrong with publishing this information. The truth is, the same people that would take this information and give up on their diet are the same people that would give up on anything. I’ve always been cautious of diets and no one can sway me one way or the other because I try to stay informed with everything that I do.
By des
April 23, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
That’s what I love about the media. They say it and its so to the idot masses.
By Charles
April 23, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
I’m often amused when I hear reports of African American women considering, “going on a diet.” You tell me, if African American women will perm and put clownish colors in their hair, red, green, yellow, blond, etc., how much can any diet help, I pray you tell? The problem is located in a persons system of belief. You can carry that to the bank. Should any person decide to trade reality for fantasy, and many people have, there will be an outer and inner manifestation of that trade off.
Consider African American men and dieting. Here we have old men, young men, and boys sporting earrings etc. Obviously, they have traded reality for delusion. If over eating is the outer manifestation of the trade off, do you think dieting will help? Dieting definitely will not help. The problem is located in the head, illusion or delusion.
I am bringing you the story behind the story, the news behind the news. Hoping to convince you that reality is usually scoffed at and illusion is usually preferred, but in the battle to overcome obesity in this society, it will be reality and not illusion or delusion that will determine the outcome in this regard.
By NOT Charles
April 23, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Charles, what does race and how you wear your hair have to do with this? You obviously want to attribute everything to race with no reason. You should always stick to the topic and not make it about race. African American women perm thier hair to make it more manageable. They can also die thier hair ANY color they want to, just like white women die thier hair. Perming hair has nothing to do with wanting to live up to Euro centric standards. Get your facts right. Also, men of ALL races wear earrings - Why should African American men be singled out for this?
By Charles
April 23, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
It’s not about race my friend. It’s about reality and diet. I have a lot of respect for Europeans and other groups; love their hair styles. Although, I would lose some respect for them if all of them in the office, both men and women, overnight or gradually, changed their hair styles to afros and locks. I would immediately think they had been deluded. Wouldn’t you think so? Maybe your argument would be they have the right to wear fros etc. It’s not about being Afrocentric.
By Jennifer A.
April 23, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Thank you for the hair editorial, Charles. Now back to Kelly’s comments. He’s correctly pointing out that eating unrealistically for the sake of losing weight does not work. He’s NOT saying a person can’t lose weight. He’d be putting himself out of business if he believed that!
Healthy living takes more than limiting yourself to grapefruit at every meal for two weeks. Sure, you can lose weight on these “diets,” but, for MOST people, the weight doesn’t stay off. Because when they’re done, they get right back on that couch and get out the potato chips and onion dip. (I used to be a great example of this!) To be a person of a healthy size requires a lifestyle that unfortunately is not espoused by many Americans who’d rather watch TV and eat “food” manufactured in science labs than play in and enjoy food from the great outdoors. This healthy lifestyle includes eating mostly real foods and exercising regularly – for the rest of your life.
Thanks to Kelly, I am on the road to living this life. Every week, he’s helping me build healthy muscle and rid myself of unhealthy fat. He has a training studio that I would highly recommend to anyone else who wants to do the same! Call him — 404.303.8305 — and check it out!
By Charles
April 23, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Now, there you have it my friends. It’s your choice. You can cast your lot with the apparent success of Jennifer A, or you can cast your lot with my so-called stated “hair editorial.”
African Americans should seriously consider my so-called “hair editorial,” and give great thanks to God for the apparent success of Kelly and Jennifer A.
By Still Defiant
April 23, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
Thanks Charles. You actually proved to me that there is a racist comment in EVERY single one of AJC’s blogs. I thought this one was the last place I would hear someone’s racist rants but you proved me incredibly wrong. Now on topic, I think that a lot of people focus on diets with the goal of losing weight and then returning to their regular lifestyles. I think that eating the right food and exercising regularly is still the best route.
By Charles
April 23, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
This is my last response for today. Let me try mental exploitation and I know that you will understand that language. You know, Still Defiant, you are right. Reality has nothing to do with diet. In fact, it’s racist to consider reality in the first place when we are clearly talking about diet. There is no nexus to reality and diet. In fact, we can live in a fantasy world and be healthy.
People should be able to read Still Defiant’s blogs and understand what contributes to the problems of the criminal justice system. Here is the irony. He accuses me of being a racist, now he does not have to think. People with similar dispositions do not have to think. Case solved, just declare racism. If I were to face the criminal justice system, I would prefer reasonable Europeans to sit as a jury of my peers. Go figure man.
By Laura Kay
April 25, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Kelly, WOW!!! First it amazes me that people do not actually read what you wrote. Loosing weight is not a quick fix which IS what most diets claim. As Jennifer and I are learning dieting doesn’t work but changing your lifestyle and bad habits do. Secondly, why in the world did this turn into a race issue? In Charles first comment the one thing that stood out for me is about the person’s belief system. He is correct. We all can buy into the quick fix solution because it is quick and easy and most do not want to work at getting healthier while loosing weight. Thirdly, Kelly, Jennifer says you are AWESOME. I am so happy she has you to assist her in her journey. Laura