The diet industry is worth billions of dollars, and it’s no surprise why. Everyone wants to look and feel their best, and diets promise quick and easy weight loss. However, most diets fail in the long run, and people end up gaining back the weight they lost, and often even more. We will explore why diets are failing, and how intermittent fasting, mindfulness, toxicities and detoxification, hormone imbalance, eating clean, and working with a functional physician can help you on your health journey.
Why diets are failing:
- Unsustainable
Many diets are not sustainable in the long run. They often require you to restrict or eliminate entire food groups, which can be difficult to maintain over time. In addition, most diets are not designed to be a permanent lifestyle change, so once you stop the diet, you may revert back to your old habits and gain back the weight you lost.
- Lack of individualization
Everyone is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Diets often take a one-size-fits-all approach, which may not work for everyone. In addition, diets may not take into account individual health conditions, preferences, and lifestyle.
- Lack of education
Many diets do not educate people on the benefit of food choices and create a sustainable healthy lifestyle. Instead, they rely on strict rules and guidelines, which can be difficult to follow and do not teach you how to make healthy choices on your own.
- Poor relationship with food
Diets can create a poor relationship with food by demonizing certain foods and promoting a restrictive mentality. This can lead to feelings of guilt and shame around food, which can contribute to disordered eating patterns.
Current Successes in Weight Loss:
- Intermittent fasting:
Intermittent fasting is a popular approach to weight loss and health that involves restricting food intake for a period of time, followed by a period of eating. There are many different approaches to intermittent fasting, such as the 16/8 method, where you fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour window, or the 5:2 method, where you eat normally for 5 days and restrict calories to 500-600 for 2 days. There are other “mathematical” eating/fasting windows that can slip into anyone’s lifestyle.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have many health benefits, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation. In addition, it can be a sustainable approach to healthy eating since it does not require eliminating entire food groups or following strict rules.
- Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. When it comes to food, mindfulness can help you become more aware of your hunger and fullness cues and make healthier choices. Mindful eating involves paying attention to the taste, texture, and aroma of your food and eating slowly and without distractions. This can help you enjoy your food more and prevent overeating.
- Toxicities and detoxification:
Toxicities and detoxification play a role in overall health and weight loss. Our bodies are exposed to toxins from the environment, such as pollution and chemicals in food and water, and toxins produced by our own bodies as a result of metabolism. Detoxification is the process of eliminating toxins from the body. This can be done through the liver, kidneys, and other organs, as well as through sweat and urine. There are also many detoxification programs and products on the market that help cleanse the body of toxins. Many times a detoxification program is the initial start BEFORE any dietary strategy happens in preparation for the body to metabolize calories better. While some detoxification programs may be effective, it’s important to approach them with caution and work with a healthcare professional to ensure they are safe and effective.
- Hormone balancing:
Hormone imbalance can contribute to weight gain and make it difficult to lose weight. Hormones such as insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones play a role in metabolism, appetite regulation, and fat storage.
Insulin resistance, which occurs when the body does not respond to insulin properly, can lead to high blood sugar levels and weight gain. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can also contribute to weight gain by increasing appetite and promoting fat storage in the abdominal area. Thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, can also play a role in weight gain and weight loss. An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight. Estrogen dominance in women make it incredibly hard to lose weight, while low testosterone shifts the body away from lean muscle over to fat storage. Working with a functional physician can help identify hormone imbalances and develop a personalized treatment plan.
- Eating clean:
Eating clean involves consuming whole, minimally processed foods and avoiding processed and refined foods. This approach to eating can help improve overall health and support weight loss by providing essential nutrients and reducing the intake of empty calories and harmful additives. Toxic debris from pesticides or processed chemicals will store in our storage tank, which are the fat (adipose) cells. Eating clean can also help reduce inflammation in the body, which can contribute to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Working with a functional physician:
Working with a functional physician can help identify underlying health issues and develop a personalized treatment plan. Functional medicine focuses on the root causes of illness, rather than just treating symptoms. This approach can help improve overall health and support weight loss by addressing underlying health issues such as hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic inflammation. Functional medicine also takes into account individual health history, genetics, and lifestyle factors to develop a personalized treatment plan.
It’s important to approach weight loss as a journey, rather than a quick fix. Sustainable lifestyle changes, rather than restrictive diets, can lead to long-term success and improved health. By taking a holistic approach to this journey you can develop a personalized program with a functional physician and stop counting calories.
