Break The Chain Of Yo-Yo Dieting

So what is Yo-Yo dieting

Yo-yo dieting is a repeated loss and gain of body weight due to excessive dieting.

My dear mum was a classic Yo-Yo dieter, she would talk incessantly about her weight and the current super diet that she was on and how this was the one that would work for her.

Every time there was a special event ahead like a wedding, anniversary or holiday, she would embark on a new diet plan. I remember watching her eat some appalling concoctions or starving herself of food in the belief that this would make her slim forever.

In many cases she did lose a lot of weight only to pile it back on after the special event had taken place. Each time she gained the weight, she always gained a little more than her start weight, only to start the process all over again for the next up and coming event!!

Why do people Yo-Yo diet

There are two reasons a person goes on a diet - Appearance and Health.
Either way the individual will embark on a diet, often something that is extreme and deprives them of quantity and or variety of food. Invariably these diets are unbalanced and after the initial period of elation from weight loss they find them hard to maintain, craving foods that they used to eat and then eating them in large volume.

The individual may lack the necessary nutrients and start to have feelings of ill health.

This leads to the failure of the diet plan - weight gain of the weight lost and more - and the inevitable merry-go-round cycle of Yo-Yo dieting begins and in most cases continues throughout the person's life as it did with my Mum.

My Experience with Yo-Yo dieting

I have been a Yo-Yo dieter most of my life, however, in my teen's and 20's I did manage my weight quite well albeit by constant yo-yoing.

The only difference between me and my Mum is that I was conscious that what I was doing was not good for me and when I was being sensible I was eating a healthy, balanced, nutritious diet.

Effect on emotions

Yo-Yo dieting has an enormous effect on your emotions. The high from losing weight, with the crash to the low from regaining it is soul destroying and the feelings of failure are immense. The need to look as good as the person you aspire to and not being able to attain this makes you feel a failure. The lack of correct nutrition can lead to depression.

How can we stop this process

Weight control has nothing to do with dieting. Weight control is all about eating the right foods in the right quantities with occasional treats that satisfy us. By following this way of eating, you will never need to diet again.

Yo-Yo dieting is a state of mind, you subconscious mind has been programmed to allow you to feed yourself in this way. However, your mind can be reprogrammed.

Reprogramming the mind to be in control of what you eat is a simple and safe way to lose weight and find renewed health and well being.

Karen Fullick - Nutritional Therapist

Tip of the day

Make a note of what you eat today no matter what it is. Then review this to see the good and bad food choices and quantities. It will start to make you aware of your eating habits!

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