Why

Your Diet May Not Be Working!

 by:

Nishanth Reddy

Jennifer, a middle-aged single mother with one

six-year-old daughter, has been skipping sweets for a few weeks now. She's

also become a stickler for portion control. She feels as if she's eating

less than ever, and she's been diligently exercising for an hour at a time

at least four days a week. Yet, she hasn't lost a single pound. The

question is, "Why?"

This is a dilemma which affects dieters the world over.

They think they are taking the steps necessary to lose weight, but nothing

seems to be happening. In essence, they are trapped in a dieting rut and

they don't know how to free themselves. As a result, they become

frustrated and depressed and may then engage in binge eating.

One of the problems with diets is that they are often

standardized. As a result, they don't take into consideration your

individual physiology and metabolism. They provide a cookie-cutter

approach to weight loss-an approach which may not work in your individual

case. As a result, an increasing number of people are turning to

dieticians to formulate a person weight loss strategy for them. This

process has been made easier through the Internet, where you can

correspond with a dietician any time of the day or night via e-mail. The

dietician can also act as your personal coach, helping you through your

dieting dilemmas.

Another reason that you may be failing at your diet is

because of a lack of support. You may have family members who can eat

whatever they want and seemingly not gain a pound. As a result, they may

fill your refrigerator with junk food, leading you into temptation. Also,

you may feel as if you have no one to turn to in order to discuss your

weight problems. In order to solve this problem, many individuals look to

psychotherapists to help them with their food-related issues. This can be

particularly important if an individual has turned to purging in an effort

to combat their weight problems. Bulimia is a serious disease which must

be treated in order to ensure the good health of the patient. Thankfully,

there are a number of treatment programs throughout the U.S. specifically

focusing on bulimia.

Yet another reason for diet failure is hidden calories.

You may literally be consuming calories and not even realize it. For

instance, the frappucinos that are so popular today are loaded with

calories-as many as 600 in a single serving! You may also be indulging in

sugary sodas-another source of extra calories. By taking a few simple

steps, such as eliminating the exotic coffee drinks from your diet and

substituting skim milk for whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the

hidden calories that are denying you dieting success.

Lack of consistency can also be a diet-killer. You might

go on a diet for a while, then quit before you've made any measurable

progress. It's only natural to want to see quick results. The problem is

that healthy weight loss involves losing only a couple of pounds a week.

That means you'll have to stay on your diet for months before you see

appreciable weight loss. Discouraging? It can be, but if you keep a

positive attitude you can achieve your ideal weight.

You may also be more successful in your dieting if you

consider it to be a lifestyle change. Therefore, your diet becomes a meal

plan for life. This means that you must change the way you look at food.

It is designed to be fuel for your body, and nothing more. As a result,

you should not turn to food to make you feel better or to provide you with

a sense of comfort. A lifestyle change implies commitment; it means that

you are prepared to follow the plan for the long haul. If you feel as if

you cannot be on your diet for any appreciable length of time, perhaps

it's time to consider a different diet. Your aim ultimately should be not

simply to lose weight, but to become healthier. A fad diet will not allow

you to reach that milestone. Therefore, you must choose your diet

carefully.