Should You Stop Dieting? What You Need To Know About Proper Weight Loss

Dieting is usually the first thing people think of when they want to lose weight. There are high-protein, low-carb diet plans, as well as high-carb, low-fat dieting techniques.  

There are many different types of diets out there today that most people who want to lose some pounds end up trying one of them. However, these diets usually don't last for long because they're either too restrictive (too low in calories) or too easy (no exercise). They may be good for the first few weeks but not for the rest of the year.

Often, you only end up regaining the pounds you lost— or sometimes more— once you resume your normal eating habits. The reason behind this is that your hunger hormone ghrelin kicks in as your body works to regain the lost weight and make up for your low-calorie and nutrient consumption. With an increased appetite, you will likely crave high-carb and sugary snacks such as doughnuts, french fries and pizza.  

This also means that you are going to be forced into doing the same diet routine only to eventually regain the lost weight. It is called yo-yo dieting, which increases the chances of developing health issues such as diabetes.

Extreme dieting for weight loss never works and can even have negative effects on your health. With that said, it begs to be asked: should you stop dieting altogether?  

Sticking to a Healthy Diet Plan 

Obesity specialist Dr. Louis J. Aronne of New York-based Weill Cornell Medicine explained that, during your calorie-deficit weight loss plan, your body first burns a form of carbohydrate called glycogen. You lose weight fast but the lost pounds “likely come from water rather than fat” as every gram of carbohydrate contains 3 grams of water.  

But dieting per se is not bad. The term “diet” generally means the food and drink that you normally consume each day for nutrition or specific requirements such as weight loss. 

However, for your weight loss to be done in the right way, what you need is to follow an effective and sustainable weight loss tactic, which should involve a healthy meal plan that goes hand-in-hand with regular exercise, be it endurance or strength training or low-intensity workouts such as walking or jogging. For a healthy weight loss, the recommended target is not more than one-half or 1 kilogram per week.

Meal Plans with Food that You Love 

The rule of thumb is to come up with a long-term, balanced food plan based on your nutritional and weight control needs. At first glance, it can be a daunting task but is very doable if done in the right way and with commitment. To help you stay motivated and ensure that you stick to your diet for the long haul, Dr. Robert Shmerling of Harvard Medical School has this advice: create a meal plan that comprises foods that you like.  

Ideally, you should add this to your everyday meals when aiming to shed the excess pounds and guarantee that you’re consuming the right nutrients for your health and fitness:  

     • Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts and cauliflower

     • Fruits such as apples, grapefruit and passion fruit

     • Lean meats such as chicken, cod, halibut, salmon and tuna

Your daily calorie intake should be lowered by 500 to 750 calories. For individuals who work out regularly, a diet plan with 1,500–1,800 calories per day is ideal. 

Long-term proper diets let you enjoy the benefits of getting the right nutrients over time. 

Stay Motivated  

It’s admittedly hard to keep the excess weight off. Commitment is essential for your healthy meal plan to work. Here are some tips to help you stick to your strategy and achieve your health goals. 

• Know your why:  When you feel discouraged, especially if you went back to your old eating patterns, remind yourself of why you’ve started eating healthy in the first place. It’s also normal to commit mistakes or miss your targets. You can always resume where you left off.     

• Surround yourself with people who share your fitness goals: Staying healthy takes a lot of work. It pays to have someone who is not only cheering you on but is also on the same fitness journey as you are. This makes the entire process easier and more fun. It also makes you feel that you’re not alone in your struggle to eat healthy.  

• Don’t starve yourself - Starving yourself is counterproductive and never works. It will eventually lead to you eating more, thereby resulting in weight gain.

Eating Healthy: Life-long Commitment

Permanent weight management is important to staying healthy. It’s a life-long commitment that entails consistency.

A 2017 study maintained that consistency is vital to achieving long-term weight loss. One of the study’s researchers, Emily Feig, who was a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital when the paper was published, explained that consistent healthy eating prevents impulsive decisions. To remain consistent, it pays to plan and prepare your food ahead and avoid eating out regularly. 

Challenging as it may be, all your efforts are going to be worth it as you start feeling healthy and experiencing the benefits of your weight control efforts. 

Takeaway 

Eating healthy does not mean depriving yourself of food. Rather, it means choosing foods that help you feel full and satisfied without sabotaging your efforts to achieve your fitness and health goals. To maintain a healthy weight, you must commit to long-term and sustainable nutritious meal plans.