by Carol Wise

Created on: April 26, 2010   Last Updated: August 30, 2010

Dieting is often a very negative venture, which is probably why people fail at it. First most diets require that you give up your favorite foods or entire food groups. As soon as something is “Taboo” we tend to want it more. We may not have had some taste treat for months but now that it is forbidden, we suddenly “crave it”.

Diets often promise quick

diet is too severe it actually slows the metabolism of the body, making it harder to lose weight because the body goes into survival mode using fewer calories, conserving and storing fat in an effort to make it through the “famine”, its owner has imposed on it. The owner “knows” they are following the diet but they aren’t seeing any results on the scale which drives many off their diets. As a society we want quick fixes and when we don’t get them, we give up.

A lack of thought or planning can lead to failure. Dieters rarely consider how they will eat after they have lost the weight they wish to lose. They believe once they reach their goal weight they will magically stay at that weight, while returning to their old habits, yet when they do, those pounds return often with a few extra.

Diets also often require things that our busy lifestyles make difficult to do, special preparation, weighing, measuring, counting calories, carbohydrates or points. Then there is the cost of some programs. Being overweight can and does affect self esteem, even if they have the money, many individuals may not feel they are worth the cost of the programs, especially if they require the program long term.

Much of our socializing is centered around baby shower or a family reunion, food is involved. It can be difficult to successfully avoid eating in such situations, without hurting someone’s feelings or feeling guilty.

Busy schedules and hectic lifestyles can contribute to the decision to grab fast food rather then going home to prepare a healthier meal especially when one has already skipped meals and are extremely hungry.

Many people have low self esteem, related to their weight, so any time they attempt to diet and are unsuccessful, they see the failure as proof they are no good, which can set up a vicious circle. To avoid those negative feelings about themselves they may just opt out of dieting and into denial.

If all of the above wasn’t enough to deal with and combat there are folks who have used food for years as a coping skill. Emotional eaters, who eat every time their emotions overwhelm them. Its ingrained and habitual, if the dieter doesn’t consciously deal with that issue they are unlikely to ever succeed at dieting. Food has been misused over the years as a cure all, from skinned knees ( a distraction) to broken hearts.

Undermining by those around the dieter, can also result in failure. The husband/wife who is threatened by their spouses weight loss, and fears being left behind. It could also be another relative or even a friend who is envious, is threatened somehow, who will offer extra food or encourage the dieter to make poorer food choices.

All these factors contribute to dieters failing in their quest to lose weight. Losing weight and actually keeping it off, is possible but requires thought, lots of planning and changing how one views food. The Diet industry has lied to the dieter for years, lies that many still believe. Losing weight takes time, it is not quick or instant. It doesn’t require a special expensive diet or avoiding entire food groups.

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