Why are so many people eager to start a diet with severe calorie restrictions? What is the draw to starving yourself?
I write this article, with a lot of hesitation. Each week I try to keep my articles informative, whether it be sharing my own experiences or challenges, or simply providing suggestions and tips on how you can live a healthier lifestyle. I have tried to avoid controversial topics. I haven’t wanted to offend anyone. I am slightly afraid that this article may become controversial and that is not my intention at all. My intention with this article is the same as every other, I want to inform. After meeting some new people this past week, hearing stories of their struggles with weightloss and finding a healthier lifestyle, I find it necessary to share some of my insights on diets, specifically diets and some of the risks associated.
I know how appealing quick fixes, guaranteed weight loss plans, and other gimmicks can be. Advertisements are everywhere promising us amazing results.
It is important to do your homework prior to starting any diet. Don’t trust the marketing spiels. Even if a doctor has promoted the diet, you need to understand how the diet will affect you.
Calories in = calories out, is a very common phrase when it comes to low calorie diets. The theory is you need to burn more than you consume through the day to lose weight. It makes sense, right?
So what is the issue? Most don’t know what they need to consume in order to survive.
Each body has a basal metabolic rate (BMR). Our BMR represents that absolute minimum number of calories our body needs for survival. BMR doesn’t take into consideration any activities throughout the day that also require calories for fuel. assuming we do nothing all day to burn additional.
It is important to know what your BMR is if you are thinking of counting calories. From there, consider how many calories you burn each day, whether it be through exercise, house cleaning, walking the dog, chasing the kids or whatever else has you busy during your every day life. Once you know what you are burning in calories you can start work on that calories in = calories out calculation.
Eating less calories than your BMR will likely result in weightloss, possibly even extreme weightloss in a very short period of time. You are starving yourself so it is only expected that there would be some pounds shed. Once your body grows accustomed to the starvation, the weightloss will plateau and sometimes turn around. When in starvation mode our body builds fat stores to protect itself. These fat stores can then in turn cause weight gain. Weight gain is only one side effect of a starvation diet. If the body isn’t getting the nutrients (and yes that means calories too) it needs for survival you can expect to experience other negative effects, some of which include: tiredness, fatigue weakness, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, dry skin, hair loss, menstrual changes and intolerance to the cold.
Before choosing to start a low calorie diet, ask yourself a few key questions: is the diet healthy? Does the diet require you to avoid or eliminate nutrients that your body needs to survive? What are the long term effects of the diet? Is the diet sustainable and if not, what will happen when you come off the diet? Talk to your doctor about the diet. Don’t take word from the doctor promoting the diet, chances are he or she is getting a kick back to make claims that the diet is healthy and appropriate for you.
At the end of the day, if any one of these diets was “the one” that really did provide on all the promises it made, all the others, include myself would be out of business. I am sorry to break the news to you. There isn’t a quick fix. There isn’t one guaranteed plan that works for everyone. Putting your health at risk in attempt to find that quick fix, just isn’t worth it. Educate yourself and be smart about it.
