If a person has a chronic problem with being overweight, trying to find short term solutions in the form of fad diets is unrealistic. This is because weight gain is almost always a slow and steady process that takes years of overeating and insufficient exercise to create. Assuming that a short term stint at the gym or a nod at cutting calories will reverse the weight gain trend is tantamount to trying to ride a bicycle with tires that are underinflated or leak air. Yes, you can sit on the seat and pedal for a short distance, but overall, you’re not going to get too far without fixing the tires. In both instances, the individual is hopeful that the weight will stay off or that the tire will remain inflated long enough to get them where they want to go. But hope has nothing to do with the success of either endeavor.

Your options are to inflate the tires enough to get you where you need to go (realizing they will still continue to leak air) until you can fix the puncture, or to buy new tires. Similarly, a short term fad diet can help you lose some weight and keep it off for a short time, but then when you go back to engaging in your typical eating habits (including a minimal amount of exercise) the weight will come back on. If you want to depend on the bicycle being ready to ride each time you use it, the permanent solution may be to buy new tires. If you want to keep the weight off, you will need to treat your eating habits and activity level as a permanent lifestyle change.

Many of us have tried some good diets and maintenance programs over the years. Over time, however, as the U.S. population has demonstrated, people become frustrated with weight loss, hit thresholds, or run out money to purchase pre-packaged foods, special drinks, or attend support programs, however nominal the fees.

As an experiment, try changing your diet and exercise patterns for a few weeks as a trial program. By greatly reducing the amount of bakery goods, cookies, ice cream and white flour products from your diet, regardless of calorie control issues, you may find that it is easier to achieve and maintain a healthy weight for not only the short term, but possibly for the rest of your life. If, in addition to reducing your intake of these high calorie foods, you substitute whole fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains for the refined and processed foods you currently consume, you have increased your chances of seeing, and feeling, the benefits of eating healthier foods. Think of this as patching a hole in your bicycle tire until you can buy a new one. Remember, you’re not going anywhere on tires that leak faster than you can refill them.
The Better Life Experts | May 22, 2009

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