Fad Dieting Ignores Mindful Choices

Losing weight should not be all about weight loss. Beside the changes to your physical appearance, even losing five pounds can have huge health benefits, such as lowing sugar levels or blood pressure readings as well as living longer. One of the biggest obstacles people face, when trying to lose weight, is the fact that American portion sizes have become mega super-sized. Changing your mindset and opting for smaller plates and bowls will put you back on track for true serving sizes that match those found on USDA product labels. Committing to a new exercise routine can seem overwhelming, especially if you are not already working out. Nonetheless, a new outlook can improve your physical wellbeing as well as help you meet your goals for weight management for the rest of your life.

Restrictive Dieting Can Lead to Weight Gain

In the end, being mindful about your choices will allow you to look forward to your new routines. The dangers associated with fad diets are real and include:

• fad dieters are always waiting to be thin
• fad dieting disrupts normal body processes
• fad dieting is a precursor for eating disorders
• fad dieting causes food obsessions
• fad dieters often feel fatigued
• fad diets cause your body to defend itself

Eating healthy to lose weight, just like exercising to lose weight, comes down to adopting a positive mindset and identifying the healthy activities and foods that you enjoy.

Set Small Sustainable Goals Every Day

Losing weight shouldn't be the goal you set, it should be the result that you seek. Your mindset should be to set small sustainable goals over which you have control. Try adding five servings of fruit and vegetables to your daily menu plan. It is doable and rewarding. Repetitive cycles of gaining, losing and regaining weight has been shown to have negative effects on metabolism and can lead to an increased risk of chronic disease. Due to unrealistic expectations, a majority of the people who resolved to lose weight and live a healthier life have already given up on their goals before the end of the first month. There will always be unhealthy temptations and distractions all around you, so putting good habits in place can help counter these negative influences. In a recent study, weight loss maintainers do not beat themselves up when they regain a few pounds.