Why Eating Fewer Calories Won't Help You Lose Weight

[rangerrebew]

Why Eating Fewer Calories Won't Help You Lose Weight
Conventional nutrition wisdom overlooks key biological processes.

By Alissa Rumsey, Contributor |Jan. 8, 2018, at 10:46 a.m.


Conventional nutrition wisdom has always told us to eat less and exercise more if we want to lose weight. In theory, this makes sense – burn more calories than you eat, and the pounds will come off. But study after study shows that, in the long run, dieting is rarely effective. Not only that, but eating fewer calories does not reliably improve health and can do more harm than good.

For example, a review of over 30 long-term dieting studies showed that more than two-thirds of dieters regained more weight than they lost. Dieters are more likely than non-dieters to gain weight over time, even after accounting for genetics. And, despite what most people think, the problem is not willpower.

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2018-01-08/why-eating-fewer-calories-wont-help-you-lose-weight

[Oceander]

So what’s the punchline?

[Polly Ticks]

So what’s the punchline?

Sorry, punch isn't on the diet -- too much sugar.   


Here's the gist of the article:

All this to say: When health professionals tell you to eat fewer calories and exercise more, we are setting you up for failure. The problem is not your lack of willpower or self-control – the problem is dieting. The biological and psychological symptoms are a result of dieting. Dieting causes an erosion of confidence and self-trust. By putting the focus on external factors like calorie counting or food rules, you lessen your ability to listen to your brain and body. It becomes harder to pay attention to signals like hunger, fullness and satisfaction. Instead, you become more vulnerable to external cues telling you what to eat like the time of day, advertising and available food. You’re more likely to eat for emotional reasons or just because the food is there, even if you're not hungry.

If eating fewer calories doesn’t work, what should you do instead? Practice intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is about learning to trust your body and its signals.