#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.

The post Why Depriving Yourself Won’t Lead to Weight Loss appeared first on Kim Barnes Jefferson.

1. You’ll start to enjoy food more, even though you won’t eat as much. When you take the time to really focus on each and every bite of your food you start to pick out flavors and textures. You learn more about which foods you love and when you’re eating something particularly delicious you’ll get to really savor it. Eating your favorite foods becomes an even more amazing experience when your focus is on enjoying it to the best of your ability! I recently attended a mindful eating event where we had to spend 10 minutes eating a Hershey kiss. Yup — you know how small they are, you eat them in one bite perhaps not even tasting the chocolate. Then you go for another one. Well. this was interesting we looked at the packaging, listened to the foil, then looked at the kiss all before we put it in our mouths. We then had to let it sit on our tongues to experience where we first tasted the chocolate. It really made you tune into the experience and the tastes.
2. You’ll make the choice to eat more nourishing food. Mindful eating is about listening to your body and feeding it for nourishment rather than eating mindlessly. Not only do fruits and vegetables offer great flavors and textures but you’ll notice that after eating a nutritious meal your body and mind will feel better. Of course you can still have your treats, but they’ll be conscious choices rather than “cheats.” My motto is 3 bites. If I have a treat and it doesn’t taste good in three bites then I toss it. It’s not worth the calories.
3. It can end the unhealthy relationship most people have with food. Today we’re taught that some goods are “good” and some foods are “bad.” If you want to be healthy there is this entire section of foods we shouldn’t eat. The “diet mindset” is all about restricting yourself to lose weight and it’s something that leaves you feeling like you’re missing out. It’s not something you can turn into real lifestyle changes. I’m all about good, better and best. Each and everyday we are faced with choices and determine what’s the good choice, better choice and the best choice. There is no guilt or obsessing once you make your decision you own it and move forward.
4. You can lose weight! This is a big one for a lot of people. Most people look into mindful eating because they want to lose weight but don’t want to count calories or deprive themselves of their favorite foods. Mindful eating helps you lose weight because it helps you stop overeating and snacking mindlessly. When you tune into your body and what it needs it’s no longer becomes an obsession. 

Mindful eating isn’t about restricting yourself. It’s not about leaving the table hungry,…
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When you eat more slowly and take a break between bites you’ll feel when you’re not hungry rather than just eating until you’re stuffed.

Mindless snacking is a big issue you can help to end through mindful eating. Have you ever made a bowl of popcorn or grabbed a bag of chips before sitting down to watch TV’ It’s full one minute and empty the next! You weren’t thinking about the food as you ate it so you didn’t realize exactly how much you were eating. That’s what mindful eating aims to stop.

The post 4 Benefits of Mindful Eating appeared first on Kim Barnes Jefferson.