Breaking the weight loss code

There are a thousand options out there for weight loss, maintaining your weight or improving your body from different diets….. Aitkins, Abs, Weight Watchers, celebrity diets to personal trainers and boot camps, the list goes on and on.

With the overwhelming abundance of choices available it can be a daunting task to try to work out which one would suit you best, what results it would achieve or is it just fleecing us of our precious money?  Add to that the “eat this, don’t eat that, that’s okay, more of this, less of that” and jumping through the exercise hoops all at the same time.

It’s overwhelming which usually leads to frustration, confusion and worst of all disillusionment!  But don’t give up, you decided to look at all this for a reason and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Finding your way through all the diet propaganda and the information overload can be as hard as breaking an encrypted code.

To be able to break the weight loss code we need to look at why some diets or methods work for some and not for others and what typically happens when someone comes off a diet or other regime.  Firstly the reason why they sometimes work is pure and simple, we are all different.  The male physique differs from a woman’s, everyone’s bodies metabolize food, effectively burn calories, lose weight, build muscle differently.  We also have differing lifestyles, which includes the amount of daily activities we do, and when and what we eat.

Importantly we all differ in our mental strengths, weaknesses, our motivations, commitment and determination at any given time.  Some people need a structured plan to follow.  To do this, they either have or make the time to follow these diets to the letter.  They also have the right amount of determination at that given time, which is why they are successful on certain diets.  However most of them over time will return towards their pre-diet state because they simply return to their usual eating habits and lifestyles.

Conversely the reason most people fail at their dieting attempts is because they don’t have the time and sufficient motivation.  Additionally they are often left feeling hungry or crave for foods during their diets, leaving them feeling physically and mentally flat, they then become disillusioned with the diet and stop.

Most diets theoretically should work to some degree for everyone, due to their common and underlying theme but what makes them differ is the added focus / requirements and time.  If you are reading this and are one of the ones who succeeded on their diet, congratulations but why then, are you reading this?  Is it because, you are worried the lost weight is only temporary?  Effectively you realize that diets generally are quick fixes that do not look at keeping you that way for life, that’s why you need to break the weight loss code.

The word diet has almost become a word we fear, conjuring up images of sacrifice and sweaty exercises to achieve our personal goals over a period of time.  There are 4 main aspects there that we need to look at:

It is important therefore we start by changing our perceptions of the word diet and instead look at it as an ‘eating and lifestyle plan’, which is how we start to break the code.

The underlying theme in almost all diets is to change our eating habits so that we cut out the foods that contribute towards weight gain while incorporating foods that promote weight loss.  They should also provide us with the fuel needed to sustain ourselves and provide the energy for the activity levels required for the diet.  However these are strict plans forbidding certain foods while specifying exact-sized portions and set workout routines, the combination of which is almost impossible to implement or carry on with for the rest of your life.

By instigating an eating and lifestyle plan, which is done by consciously incorporating healthier foods and minimising the unhealthier options that have crept into our lives as well as increasing our levels of activity.  You will not only see the same results but also be able to control your weight throughout your life while still enjoying the foods you love.  Now this is easily said, however for some it is as difficult to do, as it would be to beat an addiction.

Because we have become so set in our eating routines, we are guided as to when and what we eat through habit, convenience, familiarity or a combination of these.  This is where a conscious and determined effort is required initially to change shopping and eating habits as well as making time for some extra activity, which will then become your new habits or routine.

You need to be motivated, as with most addictions sheer bloody determination armed with an understanding of the consequences can be your best weapon.  This determination helps you stay away from your source of addiction or avoid putting yourself in situations where you may be tempted.  Of course a good support network of family, friends or a motivator can be as useful.  Making the change is the hardest part but unlike an addiction, indulging in the things we enjoy is seen as a part of life and welcomed when balanced as called for in your ‘eating and lifestyle plan’.

Losing weight not only has the benefit of obviously giving people a better shaped and healthier body, it is also an empowering process by providing us with feelings of satisfaction and pride because of what we have achieved.  We feel and look better with more energy for life, which in turn increases our confidence levels.  So the benefit is not only physical but mental too.

Read the article 'Eating Plan' to learn how to create on for yourself.