When it comes to losing weight, whether to get in shape for a holiday or simply trying to achieve a healthy weight, the majority of us will turn to dieting as a first option. But diets only work in the short term, leading to a cycle of yo-yo dieting, as well as feeling guilt for being 'good' or 'bad' with food. Health and wellness coach Joanne Henson revealed to HELLO! Fashion why she doesn't believe dieting is the best option for getting healthy… Scroll below to find out why diets don't work and what to do about it
Diets are restrictive When something is declared off limits, you can't stop thinking about it. Many dieters struggle when they're told they can't have things because they immediately want them.
Diets require food to be monitored Whether it's points, calories, fat grams etc, dieting requires you to monitor your food. This means that you end up thinking about food all the time.
Food intake is reduced Because most diets concentrating on reducing food intake, either generally or in certain food groups, you're constantly feeling deprived.
Diets are temporary Usually a diet will have a start and end date, or a target weight. When dieters reach the end of the project, they revert back to their pre-diet lifestyle which caused them to gain weight in the first place.
Scroll below for tips on how to lose weight without dieting
What to do about it Even if you have the best intentions, dieting can set you up for failure over and over again, and worsen your relationship with food. Instead, aim for a healthier lifestyle that you can permanently keep up, and make small changes, one at a time. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast every day and drink more water, and add more vegetables to your meals. Replace sugary drinks with healthier alternatives, and have healthy snacks to hand to stop hunger getting the better of you. Another great change is to exercise more regularly, and make sure to have a few alcohol-free nights every week. Joanne Henson is the author of What's Your Excuse For Not Eating Healthily?
