Can I Lose Weight With Dieting Alone?

This is question that has been asked of doctors and health professionals for years. There is no pat answer to this query…some people can lose pounds easily while on a diet whereas others are absolutely unable to shed a single ounce. It isn’t fair, but it is the truth.

There are so many diets on the market these days; The Atkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, The Low-Carb Diet, The High Protein Diet, etc., that one hardly knows which to choose. In all reality, ones own metabolism, health needs, and personality dictate which diet plan or program is best for them.

If you have tried several of these diets to no avail, it is discouraging, to say the least. However, a good diet is really a lifestyle change and should include daily exercise and a low caloric intake. It is not realistic to believe that opening the latest dieting book, or trying a new way of eating for three days will do anything for you. Weight loss is a long and difficult road, but in the end it can be amazingly rewarding.

First, it is important to keep your caloric intake below the BMR (Basal Metabolism Rate), which is the number of calories needed for your body to function at an optimal level. If you can do this, you are well on your way to sustainable weight loss. Your ultimate goal is to be healthier, not just slimmer, and if you are able to keep this in mind, you will have more of a drive to keep at your diet and to exercise as regularly as possible.

The first few pounds will come off fairly quickly, but a plateau will be reached and nothing will happen for a while. This is what causes people to abandon diets with a feeling of ‘what’s the use.’ Once you get past this, the going gets easier. While you will not lose as quickly now, if you stay with the diet, you will shed extra pounds slowly but consistently. This is the healthy way to go, and the bonus is that you will begin to look better and feel better, which is great in and of itself.

In every diet, whether it be low-carb, low-fat, or low anything else, you need to see if it is the right one for you. If you start a diet and are faithful to it, but the weight still hangs on — try another. Nevertheless, the bottom line is this: see your doctor and get his or her advice before embarking on any diet plan.

For more in depth information on exercise and nutrition inquire for a free consultation from health and wellness expert Charlie Conefrey at 781-662-IFIT (4348)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 2:09 am and is filed under Health and Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.