Why Depriving Yourself Won’t Lead to Weight Loss

You want to lose weight so you dump carbs, fats, and sugar-rich foods. So, when trying to lose weight you stop eating these foods and focus on other options such as proteins, whole foods, smoothies, green juices, etc. What happens next is total failure and disappointment, as anyone who has ever deprived themselves of certain high calorie foods to lose weight will tell you. So, why does this happen’ Despite efforts to cut back, you are not losing as fast as you want or it’s just stalled. Here are 3 reasons why depriving yourself will not lead to weight loss.

#1: A Self-Deprived Diet Is Guaranteed to Backfire

Whether you have decided to eliminate whole food groups or avoid high-calorie favorites (burgers, chocolate, fries, etc), any diet that consists of depriving yourself is guaranteed to backfire. For starters, such a diet is hard to stick to. You will always want to cheat on it. Chances are super high that you will go back to your old eating habits that caused you to pack on excess fat in the first place. Moreover, the body just is not designed to work beyond its limits. If you have too little food your body will start to store it, thinking that you are starving. Your metabolism will slow down, fat burning will shut down, and the body will begin to hold onto its fat stores in preparation for starvation. So what you thought would help cut fat fast, is not even an effective weight loss method.

I work with my clients to develop healthy eating habits that can be integrated into your lifestyle. It’s all about moderation that has a place for healthy foods and your favorite pizza, wine and cupcakes.

#2: Deprivation Turns You into a Ticking Time Bomb

The first thing most people do is write a list of all the foods that they are no longer eating. When you do this you will only want them MORE! You will find yourself constantly thinking of these foods and craving to indulge in that savory piece of pizza that you have not had in a long time or that creamy ice cream, which always gives you so much comfort. While your “willpower” will let you hold out at first, but the longer you deny yourself, the greater your cravings will grow. Then that willpower battery will snap!!! You will give in to your cravings for some it may not be pretty!!! The worst part is that the period of overeating can last for as long as weeks, months, or even years in some cases.

Deprivation sucks!! I work with my clients to develop healthy eating habits that can be integrated into your lifestyle. It’s all about moderation that has a place for healthy foods and your favorite pizza, wine and cupcakes.

#3: Cutting out Whole Food Groups Is Not Healthy 

It makes me nuts when I hear people talking about I going to lose with so I’m going to cut sugar, carbs, go keto, go vegan, you name it. Sure you may lose weight initially. You will also miss out on other crucial nutrients. Carbs have health boosting benefits for the heart, promote a healthy digestive system, boost energy, and fill the stomach faster. So, cutting out carbs means you will be depriving yourself of essential dietary needs. The same goes for other foods as each food group has its own set of nutrients and benefits. You may also have hunger pangs or headaches.

Seriously, there is no point in depriving yourself to lose weight because such a diet does not even work in the long haul. You’ll end up more frustrated because the weight will come back and bring friends.

Instead, you should work at forming healthy eating habits that can be integrated into your lifestyle. You like your wine”’ Me too, instead of having a glass or 2 every night how about you have a glass every other. A dessert person” If you are in the habit of eating half a gallon of ice cream in one go, reduce that portion to about half a cup and the cut down on the frequency in which you enjoy this creamy delight. By simply applying moderation and watching portion sizes, you can continue enjoying favorites such as pizza and chocolate and still lose weight.

I’d love to hear some of your favorite tips.