Struggling with diets is often the result of information overload. Weight loss has become a billion dollar industry, and there are hundreds of different companies claiming that their diet is the answer. Information from dieticians, research scientists and fitness gurus often seems to conflict. It’s hard to make a decision when faced with so much information. Fad diets can look appealing when you hear claims about results achieved, but they usually aren’t the long term solution to controlling body weight.

Then we tend to compare ourselves based on social media. We see posts of people half naked with their photos enhanced and all flaws brushed out. And we wonder why there is so much depression. The following facts will help you to understand why you may have struggled with diets in the past.

1) Diet pills aren’t the answer.

They may help you along the way, but diet pills aren’t the answer to weight problems. Most people are overweight due to a combination of their lifestyle and diet. Genetics also come into the equation. None of these things can be improved by popping pills. Vitamin supplements are the only pills with any real value in improving your diet and nutrition.

2) Starving yourself can result in a weight increase.

Starvation diets have become popular over recent months, with some involving fasting for two or three days a week. Others suggest reducing your calorie intake to as low as eight hundred per day. Very low calorie diets slow your metabolism down so you burn less energy. You may experience rapid weight loss at first, but ultimately your body starts to store fat and the effect is reversed. Many doctors warn against starvation diets, and they can lead to loss of muscle mass and health problems.

3) Meal replacements and diet shakes don’t burn fat.

Meal replacement products are ultimately powdered or liquidised food. In spite of claims made by some marketers, they can’t help you to burn fat. Meal replacements are a convenient way to take on calories and nutrients, but they are no better for you than normal food. Your body has evolved to digest solid food very effectively, and reducing it to some other form doesn’t bring any benefits.

4) Losing fat can’t be accomplished without some effort.

There are no silver bullets when it comes to losing fat. Certain types of food can accelerate the fat burning process, but you still need to make changes to your diet and lifestyle if you want a leaner body. Cutting fat from your body entirely isn’t recommended. Eating leaner cuts of meat is one way to reduce your fat intake, but your goal should never be to reduce it to zero. Increasing your level of exercise is the safest way to improve muscle definition and shift excess fat.

5) You can’t lose weight by exercising for just minutes a day.

Headlines like “3 Minute Abs” are nothing more than hype. It makes sense to exercise efficiently, but a couple of minutes a day isn’t going to improve your body shape. Most fitness experts advise that you should aim to exercise for between twenty and thirty minutes at least three times a week. A mixture of aerobic exercise and weight training gives you the maximum benefit. Going on a crash diet without a proper exercise plan usually results in loss of lean body mass.

At High Expectations Counseling we have two certified trainers that have extensive experience in training for your specific body type. It’s not a one size fits all model. When you meet with our fitness and wellness team you will create in a collaborative way a plan that is right for you. Give us a call today at 407-967-1327 and speak to one of our professionals today.