Why 95% of Diets Fail (and How to be in the 5%)

Why 95% of Diets Fail (and How to be in the 5%)

How many times have you gone on a diet, only to give up because of hunger and frustration before your goals were met?

Chances are, you’ve done this a few times and you’ve known others who had similar experiences.

That’s because when you diet, you set yourself up for failure.

95% of diets simply do not work. Let’s take a look at the reasons why, and then learn how to attain that most coveted goal of all dieters: long term weight loss that leaves you healthier and happier.

First, the reasons why most diets fail:

Reason 1: Diets are temporary.

A diet is a temporary solution to a long-term problem. Dieters often find themselves thinking in the short-term. “If I can just get to my goal weight,” they tell themselves, “I’ll be able to eat my favorite foods again!”

That’s exactly the thought process that leads to failure, because returning to old habits leads to regained pounds. If you want lasting weight loss, stop dieting and make some permanent lifestyle changes you can comfortably live with.

Reason 2: Diet is only one half of the weight loss equation.

Trying to lose weight fast through diet alone is like trying to swim using only one arm. Can it be done? Yes. Is it difficult? Of course!

Exercise should be a part of your healthy weight loss plan. Without it, you’ll experience a very slow weight loss, or you’ll have to cut so many calories that you’ll end up feeling hungry and deprived. Don’t do that to yourself.

Reason 3: Diets are not satisfying.

Some diets require you to eat low-calorie foods that contain very little fat. Others require you to eat very small quantities of food. Others encourage you to eat plenty of protein but drastically cut your carbohydrate consumption.

None of these diets will satisfy you for very long. The healthiest and happiest eating plans are those that contain a mixture of lean protein, heart-healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates.

Add plenty of fiber and water, and your body will be more satisfied with the fuel you put in it.

Reason 4: Diets can be expensive.

Healthy food typically costs more than junk food, but special diet foods can really strain your food budget!

The expense of special bars, shakes, and supplements is pretty appalling, not to mention unnecessary. Diet plans that require you to buy pre-packaged meals are the most expensive of all, and they often contain additives that can sabotage your weight loss.

Don’t waste your money on special foods. Get your nutrition through whole, natural foods that you can cook for yourself. Your budget – and your waistline – will be thinner as a result.

Reason 5: Diets don’t easily fit into a normal lifestyle.

Have you ever watched your friends and family eat normally while you had to settle for a liquid or prepackaged meal? Do you spend an inordinate amount of time trimming, weighing, and measuring your food while everyone else digs in?

It’s hard to feel like one of the crowd when you’re following an inconvenient diet. That’s another reason why so many dieters give up in despair and frustration.

Your lifestyle is an important consideration. Don’t choose an eating plan that requires a radical departure from the norm.

Reason 6: Too much dieting can cause weight gain.

When you go on a diet, your body reacts by squeezing every bit of nourishment from the foods you do eat. After the diet ends, your body still processes food with increased efficiency, causing you to pack on the pounds even though you’re eating “normally”.

This is a survival mechanism that helped our ancestors survive times of famine. Diets are the new famine, and they can actually leave you weighing more than you did before the diet!

How to Succeed

For weight loss to be safe and permanent, it needs to come as the result of a lifestyle change. Find a healthy eating plan you can stick with for the rest of your life. Add a reasonable amount of exercise.

With those bases covered, you’re free to live your life without constantly worrying about your diet. The weight you lose will stay gone, and you will enjoy greater health and happiness.