Post by Alena on Dec 27, 2006 13:13:40 GMT -5
This was posted to a vegetarian emailing list that I'm on, and I think is valuable for anyone here considering making any sort of major diet change for either weight loss, health, or philosophical reasons:
Let's start this article off right. You are not 'going on a diet'. Our
concept of 'a diet' implies a temporary change that will work miracles - if
we're only strong enough to stick to it. That way of thinking is encouraged
by decades of 'fad diets' that promised us quick, low-effort weight loss, if
we just ate this one miracle food. I still remember the Cabbage diet, the
No-Carb diet and the Banana diet, among others. Over and over throughout the
last 40 years, diets that advocated eating by a strictly enforced menu have
been proven ineffective, or worse, dangerous.
Going on a diet also implies that you will eventually go off your diet -
whether you 'fall off' it, or return to 'normal eating'. The secret to
losing weight and keeping it off is to create a new eating plan that will
BECOME your normal eating. And this is the place that most of the popular
diets' fail. Any diet that restricts your intake of ANY necessary nutrients
too severely will ultimately fail you. In order to lose weight and maintain
your weight loss indefinitely, you need to teach yourself to eat a balanced
diet in portions that your body needs.
Below is a list of common diet mistakes that will undermine your attempts to
lose weight.
* DON'T restrict your intake to less than 1000 calories a day, unless you
are under the supervision of a doctor. Restricting your intake that severely
can lead to serious health complications. It also will convince your body
that it's starving and slow your metabolism so that it conserves your stores
of food. In other words - your body will kick into gear to hold onto your
fat so you don't starve to death.
* DON'T cut out one or more entire food groups, including fats. Your body
needs an adequate intake of all nutrients in order to stay healthy. In every
food group there are 'good' and 'bad' choices for weight loss. Stick to the
good ones, and you'll see your weight dropping without compromising your
health.
* DON'T fast for extended periods without medical supervision. For the same
reasons that you shouldn't restrict your intake of calories to less than
1000 a day, you shouldn't embark on a fast that lasts more than 48 hours
without a doctor's supervision.
* DON'T purge. Purging, whether by emetics, diuretics, vomit-induction or
laxatives robs your body of more than the nutrients that you're getting rid
of. It's unsafe at any speed. You can end up with far worse problems than a
few extra pounds.
* DO see your doctor before starting a serious diet. He or she can recommend a visit to a nutritionist to help you design a common sense weight loss plan that will naturally evolve into a healthy eating style that will last a lifetime.
Let's start this article off right. You are not 'going on a diet'. Our
concept of 'a diet' implies a temporary change that will work miracles - if
we're only strong enough to stick to it. That way of thinking is encouraged
by decades of 'fad diets' that promised us quick, low-effort weight loss, if
we just ate this one miracle food. I still remember the Cabbage diet, the
No-Carb diet and the Banana diet, among others. Over and over throughout the
last 40 years, diets that advocated eating by a strictly enforced menu have
been proven ineffective, or worse, dangerous.
Going on a diet also implies that you will eventually go off your diet -
whether you 'fall off' it, or return to 'normal eating'. The secret to
losing weight and keeping it off is to create a new eating plan that will
BECOME your normal eating. And this is the place that most of the popular
diets' fail. Any diet that restricts your intake of ANY necessary nutrients
too severely will ultimately fail you. In order to lose weight and maintain
your weight loss indefinitely, you need to teach yourself to eat a balanced
diet in portions that your body needs.
Below is a list of common diet mistakes that will undermine your attempts to
lose weight.
* DON'T restrict your intake to less than 1000 calories a day, unless you
are under the supervision of a doctor. Restricting your intake that severely
can lead to serious health complications. It also will convince your body
that it's starving and slow your metabolism so that it conserves your stores
of food. In other words - your body will kick into gear to hold onto your
fat so you don't starve to death.
* DON'T cut out one or more entire food groups, including fats. Your body
needs an adequate intake of all nutrients in order to stay healthy. In every
food group there are 'good' and 'bad' choices for weight loss. Stick to the
good ones, and you'll see your weight dropping without compromising your
health.
* DON'T fast for extended periods without medical supervision. For the same
reasons that you shouldn't restrict your intake of calories to less than
1000 a day, you shouldn't embark on a fast that lasts more than 48 hours
without a doctor's supervision.
* DON'T purge. Purging, whether by emetics, diuretics, vomit-induction or
laxatives robs your body of more than the nutrients that you're getting rid
of. It's unsafe at any speed. You can end up with far worse problems than a
few extra pounds.
* DO see your doctor before starting a serious diet. He or she can recommend a visit to a nutritionist to help you design a common sense weight loss plan that will naturally evolve into a healthy eating style that will last a lifetime.