Why Diets Don’t Work?

Diets don’t work. Diets are nothing more than an exercise in self-denial, where one is usually asked to give up foods that seem to satisfy deep psychological or emotional needs. To many with long standing problems, dieting not only feels restrictive but punitive.

Whether it’s an 800 calorie diet, a doctor supervised diet with special injections, the no-carbohydrate diet, or other weight reduction plans, the result is always the same. Weight is lost in the first few weeks, but is eventually all gain back. The more one diets, the lower the metabolism goes and the more weight that is gained. This is because dieting always lowers metabolic rate and establishes a set point for burning off calories lower than before the diet was started. It is very common for victims of dieting to have average daily body temperature lower than 98.6*F.

Reducing calories is not the answer. Contrary to popular belief, fasting is also not the answer. The more you do this, the lower your metabolism becomes. Skipping meals slows metabolism. When one drastically lowers caloric intake and metabolism is lowered, the body goes into a “starvation” or “conservation” mode. This means that the body starts storing fat and burning off glycogen (stored carbohydrates) in muscles. With each cycle of dieting, the net result is an increase of body fat relative to muscle mass. In other words, dieting causes fat gain.

To loose weight, one must increase metabolic rate by stimulating the body to burn fat, not lean tissue. In addition, there has to be a way to enhance waste elimination, enzyme activity and hormone function (especially thyroid, adrenal and pituitary). One needs to permanently leave the “conservation” mode. This at least involves eating regular meals, making healthy food and beverages choices, correcting nutrient deficiencies or metabolic imbalances, and having a positive mental attitude.

EXERCISE MAY HELP

By itself, exercise is an ineffective way to lose weight. Further, studies show that the wrong type of exercise leads to weight gain, not weight loss.

METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL BALANCING

Brown fat is responsible for a considerable amount of thermogenesis-----the burning of calories from fat stores in the body. It represents about two percent of all the fat in the body. Brown fat metabolism can only be stimulated by anything which activates the sympathetic nervous system. This could include caffeine, regular physical activity, essential fatty acids as well as certain herbs (e.g. Siberian ginseng, kola nut, yerba mate, salix alba and kelp). It may sound hard to believe but overweight people tend to have low essential fatty acid levels; supplementation is important to achieve permanent weight loss. Recommended supplements include flaxseed oil, fish oil, or evening primrose oil.

Certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids are important cofactors for the manufacture of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals), active thyroid hormone, growth hormone and adrenal hormones. These include vitamin B complex, vitamin C, zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, chromium, manganese, l-carnitine, glycine and methionine.

Weight problems are associated more with what people eat rather than how much. Studies indicate that you can eat all you want and still lose weight --- as long as you eat less fat and eliminate sugar and simple carbohydrates.

Other studies indicate that hidden food allergies may play a role in suppressing metabolism. These are usually to common foods like milk, wheat, corn, eggs, and yeast.

Eliminating unsuspected food allergies may be crucial to some individuals.

A high fiber intake of raw fruits and vegetables (at least 60% of daily intake) is crucial for permanent weight loss success because complex carbohydrates stimulate thermogenesis. Also fat burning works better when the waste material in the large bowel is eliminated regularly. If you do not have at least one large bowel movement for every meal you eat, you can not expect to lose weight efficiently.

A large intake of spring water (at least eight glasses daily for a healthy adult) plus fruit or vegetable juices are absolutely necessary.