If you are feeling frustrated after an unsuccessful weight-loss attempt, you are not alone. James Anderson from Colorado State University claims that every year around 50 million Americans will embark on a weight-loss diet, but only 5 percent will lose weight and successfully keep it off. There are many reasons why a diet may fail, from being too complicated to follow, to a lack of support from your partner or close family.
Too Many Rules
The study "When Weight Management Lasts," published in the February 2010 issue of "Appetite," revealed that the fewer rules a weight-loss plan has, the likelier a dieter is to succeed. If your unsuccessful weight-loss attempt involved constantly counting calories, points or blocks, this could be the reason, or partial reason for your failure.
Ineffective Plans
The only proven method to lose weight long-term is by expending more calories than you consume, which is preferably achieved with a combination of dietary changes and increased physical activity. If the weight loss plan you unsuccessfully followed advised cutting out a specific food group or excessively overeating one type of food, the theory behind the plan is likely flawed. These types of diets are typical fad diets and are not sustainable. Your body will begin to crave the foods that are banned, as it becomes nutritionally deficient. A successful weight-loss diet plan should not cut out carbohydrates, proteins or fats, and should comprise eating a wide range of fresh produce, whole grains and lean proteins.
Starvation Mode
If you eat a very low-calorie diet, but do not succeed in losing weight, it is possible your body has entered "starvation mode." When this occurs, your metabolism slows to a point that it burns calories at a unusually slow rate as it applies additional efficiency to get the most benefit from a limited supply of calories. To prevent your body going into starvation mode or using lean muscle tissue for energy, eat no fewer than around 1,200 calories a day.
Behavioral Aspects
A 1990 study published by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reported that women who lost weight and successful kept it off showed positive behavioral traits that were not present in unsuccessful dieters. The successful group exercised regularly and were conscious of their eating patterns. They made use of social support resources and developed coping strategies. They also shared an ability to face their problems head-on. The unsuccessful group were not strict with their exercise routines, tended to eat mindlessly and did not seek social support. In addition, very few of them faced their problems directly.
References
- Colorado State University: Weight Loss Products and Programs: J. Anderson, L.Young, and J.Roach; 2008
- Science Direct: When Weight Management Lasts. Lower Perceived Rule Complexity Increases Adherence; Jutta Mataa,. et al; 2009
- MedlinePlus: Tips for Losing Weight
- MayoClinic.com: Detox Diets
- PubMed.gov: "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Maintenance and Relapse After Weight Loss in Women: Behavoiral Aspects; Kayman S., et al, Nov 1990
- Weight Loss Resources: Dieting and Metabolism; Juliette Kellow BSc RD
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