Everybody’s weight loss journey is different. However, there are a few universal truths that you can use to your advantage if you want to lose weight. You can use that information to weed out the fads that won’t work long-term and focus on the ones that will give you lasting results.
5 Diet Trends That Don’t Work
1. Depending On Pre-packaged Foods
Using pre-packaged foods during a diet can be an easy route but it’s not sustainable.
Studies show that you’re better off having more control over your meals by preparing them yourself. That makes it easier for you to customize the meals when you need to and be less dependent on a particular brand of processed food.
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2. Eating Too Few Carbohydrates
Certain diets will demonize carbohydrates but all carbs aren’t created equally. When you limit carbs, in general, you might be sacrificing your energy levels and significantly affecting essential functions.
That’s the reason why these types of diets are only done intermittently. Worse yet, any weight loss gains will likely be undone when you re-introduce carbs into your diet.
3. Limiting Fruits And Vegetables
It’s a given that fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, minerals, as well as other nutrients. Yet, there are diet trends that will exclude them or limit how much of them you can eat.
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The end result is that your diet is missing important nutrients that your body needs to function. As expected, studies show that any weight loss that you see from these kinds of trends won’t last.
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4. Focusing On One Type Of Food
There are specific diets that focus on eating or drinking one type of food for a set period. Obviously, significantly reducing what you eat will ensure that you lose weight.
However, this is neither a healthy route to weight loss nor a sustainable one. While these kinds of trends can be sold as a way to detox your body, you may be doing more harm than good and the weight loss won’t last.
5. Having A Restrictive Definition Of ‘Healthy’
With some diets, the focus is on a restrictive definition of ‘healthy’ instead of the real nutritive value.
For example, some snacks and candies are technically vegan but they have a limited place in a healthy diet. That might be an extreme example but you have to pay attention to what a diet is asking you to do before adopting it.
5 Things To Focus On Instead
1. Making Simple Sustainable Changes
Studies show that you’re more likely to stick to diet changes if you make a plan and take things slowly. Before embarking on a diet, think about what you’d like to accomplish and how to do it. Then adjust those tasks to align with your life. For example, even switching out one sugary drink per day with water can make a difference.
2. Trimming Your Portions
An ideal portion can vary from person to person but you can work with your doctor to determine what’s right for you. The key here is to avoid skipping meals altogether. You should focus on eating the right amount of food at set times of the day.
3. Keeping Meals Balanced
It’s generally recommended to avoid foods that are highly processed when trying to lose weight. However, it helps to concentrate on eating balanced meals instead of what’s on the “can’t have” list. Whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats are a great bet.
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4. Complementing Your Diet
According to health experts, your diet is only one aspect of managing your weight. You’re more likely to experience lasting results if you also exercise regularly, find hobbies that you find fulfilling, and practice good stress management.
5. Prioritizing Your Mental Health
As you’re working on your weight loss goals, don’t forget to take care of your mental health as well. A couple of things that can affect you during this time are comparing yourself to others and beating yourself up when you falter. Neither of those things will help you in the long run so make sure to stay focused on what you’d like to achieve.
The most important takeaway from this is that you need to personalize your weight loss plan. While some diets work well in general, that doesn’t mean you can adopt them without a few tweaks. It’s a good idea to work with your doctor to ensure that you’re considering all the factors that can affect losing weight so you’ll be successful.
