I suspect that if you talk to anyone about managing their weight, the majority of people would have been the victim of a never ending cycle of yo-yo diets. Maybe it's a term that you've heard but never really understood, or maybe you are one of those lucky people that has never been a victim.
I talk from personal experience, as before I started with Vision Personal Training I had tried and failed at a vast number of diets. Thinking back to those diets - I think that's the main problem - Diets! There has to be a starting point and with most diets, there's always an end point and there is the main problem! You make huge changes but they aren't sustainable and so, once you lose those few extra Kilos you go back to your "normal "eating routine. I guess there's no surprises, that because there was no change, you put the weight back on again and then repeat this process again and again and again. The problem with depriving your body of food, is that you manage to slow your metabolism and so then when you do go back to normal eating, you actually gain weight easier. Repeat this process over many years and it becomes harder and harder to lose weight and maintain lean muscle mass
There has also been research that yo-yo dieting may lead to a higher risk of increased body fat, which means these diets, in the long run, can have the opposite of the intended effect of losing weight. What's worse is that most yo-yo dieting is done with the trendy diets of the moment, which are poor nutritionally compared to eating a regular diet of whole foods.
Yo-yo dieting can have other effects as well. Not seeing results on the scales can be frustrating and that can lead to stress or feelings of depression - stress is your big enemy when trying to lose weight, as it triggers increased cortisol production in the body. Too much of that hormone can raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels and this can then contribute to chronic diseases and mental health issues.
I did this for about 20 years and then had the massive job of losing over 50Kg. That's where the support network and education at Vision Personal Training came in. I not only wasn't put on a diet but every step was clearly explained and of course the results proved it was a sensible route to take. I was given hints and tips on how to stimulate my metabolism, all the time losing weight but maintaining Lean muscle mass.
Losing weight the healthy way, has become so much more informed now with our Body Scanners - the guess work has been taken out of the equation and you can see that a balance of strength training, cardio and diet helps add years to your bio age.
Say goodbye to 'diet' and hello to sustainable Healthy Eating Plans!
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
