In my life I’ve been on tons of diets. I’ve tried Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, not eating, “cutting back”, pills, shakes, juices, powders, bars, and just about anything you can think of.
Of course I’ve also had my thin friends tell me weight loss diets are so easy - just do it! I don’t know about you but one thing I don’t like is people who have never had a weight problem trying to tell you how to lose weight easily. They think we overweight people have some sort of control problem and that our weight is all our fault!
Now I’m not trying to say I’m not responsible for where I’m at today, because I am. But at the same time, I know gaining weight for me is easier than it is for most people. I feel like if I walk by a burger joint I can instantly pack on 3 or 4 more pounds, lol.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
We all have a choice at the end of the day. We decide how we want to look, how we want to feel, and most importantly what we’re going to eat. One of the reasons I think weight loss diets fail is because they are setup for failure.
I’m not talking about the food you eat, necessarily, although that can be a big part of it. What I’m really talking about is our mindset and the way we view ourselves.
1) Weight Loss Diets fail because we don’t adjust who we are as we get thinner. Anyway can lose 5 pounds if that had to. And if you can do it once, you can do it again and again. But too many times we start losing weight and something goes off in our head, something that prevents us from reaching our goal weight.
This is called the “Snap Back” effect because like a rubber band we have stretched to our limit and now must snap back because we fear breaking. We have to learn to stretch how we view ourselves so we can continue to grow and accept our new look.
2) We’re not eating for life. Most weight loss diets fail because we’re not eating for life. We’re eating to lose weight. This will NEVER work in the long run because you need to adjust your eating habits to a lifestyle you can live with. I’m learning this now as I change from eating large meals late in the evenings to eating smaller meals throughout the day.
I’m not always perfect, but I’m getting there, step by step, day by day. And that leads us to the final point of why weight loss diets fail.
3) We expect perfection, and when we don’t reach it - we binge. This is probably the saddest of all realities for dieters. I know in my past I did this so many times, sabotaging my diet and myself.
I could do well for weeks and then suddenly I’d screw up. Maybe I’d drink a sugary drink or eat some sort of carb laden sandwich. Instead of accepting that and just moving on with my diet, I’d justify eating more.
Oh well, I already cheated I might as well eat whatever I want. This sort of thinking is the kind of thing that has kept me from my goal weight. Not anymore. And hopefully not for you either.
When you deviate from your weight loss diet, it’s ok. Accept it and move on. You’ve got to, or you’ll find an excuse to quit again.
And those are the 3 reasons weight loss diets fail. In the end, it’s up to you (and me) to make a bold choice and stick to it. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. I know everyone knows they could lose weight if they had to. It’s just a matter of getting your mind wrapped around the idea.
Mike Antoni is an Internet Marketer trying to shed 280 pounds in 13 months. He's created a site chronicling his weight loss (complete with pictures and videos!) to let the whole world watch as he shoots for his goal. While losing the weight, he's also attempting to earn 1 Million Dollars from the site! You've gotta see this to believe it! Make sure you read all about his crazy adventure.
