I’m an Eating Psychology Expert. Here’s Why Diets Don’t Work

Yoga Journal via Yahoo ^ | January 1st, 2022 | Davida Wright

[Mariner]

It's resolution time again, and if you’re like most people, eating “better” may be one of your goals for the new year. According to a survey on 2021 resolutions, the most common commitments people made were to exercise more (46 percent), improve their diet (45 percent), or lose weight (44 percent).

In fact, as many as 45 million Americans begin a diet each year. But research shows that weight-loss diets just don't work. They’re unsustainable and you're likely to regain the weight.

What if, instead of plotting how you'll restrict your calories in the new year, you resolved to feel good about the food you eat?

That's the advice of eating psychology expert Elise Museles, author of Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think & Live. Museles encourages readers to consider their personal food stories--how they were raised around food, their ideas and rules about diet, and the emotions they feel when they’re eating--both positive and negative. She says discovering your story about food is key to creating a healthy new narrative about what, why, when, and where to eat.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I love the first “S”

But the rest of the MASH? Not thrilled about that.

[Mariner]

” Using those useless height weight male female tables?”

For mere money you can determine your ACTUAL sedentary calorie burn, and ongoing burn while active.

For those of us that are of modest means, those table give a close approximation. Knowing that movement for somebody at 8% body fat consumes far more calories than the same movement of somebody at 25% body fat.

Precision is not necessary to change the way you live and observe results on the scales and in the mirror.

“It’s so tempting to blame people as having no self control and eating unhealthy diets.”

That is, in 100% of all cases in the history of mankind, the certain cause of obesity. It simply cannot be anything else.

[JayGalt]

LOL.

[Wissa]

That is, in 100% of all cases in the history of mankind, the certain cause of obesity. It simply cannot be anything else.

Including cases of obese infants?

[Mariner]

“Happy for you that you’re so physically perfect. “

I’m putting in the WORK, otherwise I’d still be 40lbs over.

Cardio 5 days per week.

Weights 3 days per week.

And a clean, balanced, whole food diet.

So save your resentment for somebody else.

And the reason you are not where you want to be is because you are not putting in the work.

[Mariner]

“Just thinking about maybe losing weight is “good enough”, or maybe signing up for a newsletter. Go for a walk, switch to Diet Pepsi. Then blame “my metabolism” when nothing changes, “Diets don’t work!!”, the “Experts” say so.”

You see it on this forum of supposed erudite, “show me” conservatives.

They say diet and exercise don’t work.

And then never do the work.

[Mariner]

“Including cases of obese infants?”

Yes.

Only the food intake was forced on them by a criminal parent.

[daniel1212]

"A pound a week. A 300 calorie daily deficit. That deficit can come as the result of eating less, or moving more. "

Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! (Ecclesiastes 10:17)

Meaning I would say pray to God in Christ to have proper weight, and do not eat unless you need to in order to function at what you are doing - not because you lust for the taste of food (though we can enjoy what God gives in its time) or just bcz the clock says so (be present at family meals but eat little if not needed) - and then as a general rule only eat just enough to have the energy to do what you need or want to do. And watch the fat content of what you are going to eat, and keep it low unless you are on lean and empty and will be working it off.

God designed the body to go thru lean times - the equivalent of intermittent fasting - and to work to eat, and eat to work.

[fireman15]

There is nothing that I disagree with you about.

My own experience is different than yours, but in my case that is because of unusual circumstances. At one time I was a very successful bicycle road racer. I rode over 10,000 miles a year. When you reach a high level of competition... on a long ride you can feel when you are burning stored glycogen in your muscles, carbohydrates coming from your digestive system, and stored fat. On a longer ride after 30 to 40 miles most of your energy is coming from stored fat and whatever you have been able to get into your mouth along the way.

Back when I was very active bananas were the “energy bar” of choice. But it took a lot of them because they do not have very many calories so these were supplemented with cookies, candy and sometimes sweetened drinks. Without this you would experience the “bonk” where you were running almost completely on fat. You cannot metabolize fat at a quick enough rate to keep up a fast pace. In competition this means that you will be “dropped”.

Some people can metabolize fat quicker than others... it depends on both genetics, training and possibly the location of the stores being used.

[fireman15]

Sorry italicized my own words.

[daniel1212]

As an added stimulus for weight loss (and or guilt) I will add (from here):

Certain health conditions are Covid-19 comorbidities

Research finds that obesity along with high blood pressure and diabetes (which typically are related to obesity [3][4] [5]) are the leading comorbidities in Covid-assigned deaths.[6] And over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. [7] And while Covid-assigned deaths are now over 800,000 in America, yet according to the National Library of Medicine the estimated number of deaths per year in America that are attributable to obesity among US adults is approximately 280,000. Which means 2,800,000 over a 10 year period.

[8] The CDC reported that obesity is linked to impaired immune function, and may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection, and decreases lung capacity and reserve and can make ventilation more difficult, and the increased risk for hospitalization or death was particularly pronounced in those under age 65,[9] and that about 78% of people that were hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 were overweight or obese. [10]

This includes some otherwise healthy, hard-working people and even the young. Since the pandemic began dozens of studies have reported that many of the sickest COVID-19 patients have been people with obesity A study published in August 2020 reported that an international team of researchers who pooled data from scores of peer-reviewed papers capturing 399,000 patients, found that “people with obesity who contracted SARS-CoV-2 were 113% more likely than people of healthy weight to land in the hospital, 74% more likely to be admitted to an ICU, and 48% more likely to die.” Another study found that 77% of nearly 17,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were overweight (29%) or obese (48%) - and which over 40% of Americans are. [11]

Consistent with this, the majority of global COVID-19 deaths have been in countries where many people are obese, with coronavirus fatality rates 10 times higher in nations where at least 50% of adults are overweight,” and “that 90% or 2.2 million of the 2.5 million deaths from the pandemic disease so far were in countries with high levels of obesity.[12] “The report found that every country where less than 40% of the population was overweight had a low Covid-19 death rate of no more than 10 people per 100,000.” “Age is the predominant factor affecting risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid-19, but the report finds that being overweight comes a close second.” [13] cf. [14] [15]

In addition, more recent research has reported that fat cells can act as a reservoir for RNA viruses like influenza A and HIV, providing an additional site for the virus to replicate.

[Persevero]

Permanent changes. Yep.

I have found several things I can permanently change. Stuff like switching from lattes to cappuccinos. Using low cal mayo instead of regular. Weighing out my cereal so I stay aware. Etc.

For life! Or it doesn’t work.

[KYGrandma]

With my liver failure I have gained about 20 lbs. I have cut the carbs and sodium. But have to take a ton of steroids. They have given me diabetes, and have to take insulin. The salt was the worst. And carbs are tough. At least, I am alive. Will probably not get a liver transplant, as I will be 70 in nine days. Maybe, it motivated me to follow a strict diet. I do cheat a little, but only occasionally.

[Persevero]

I do agree that different people have different calorie burn. The height weight tables are a start.

Try 1800 calories a day. After two weeks did you lose? Ok. If not go down to 1700. Etc. until you lose.

If you lose at 1700 for a while then stop it’s because your daily energy needs have decreased because there is less of you to move around. Go to 1600.

Eventually you will get to your preferred weight and can stay there as you like.

If you eat fewer calories you will lose. Yes you will. I don’t care if you have metabolic syndrome or hormones. Due to these things you may need less calories than other people but calorie restriction WILL take it off.

[IrishBrigade]

‘But now they go to waist.’

a waist is a terrible thing to mind...

[Mariner]

“Many of the firefighters that I used to work with who were overweight refused to eat anything but meat. This usually resulted in temporary weight loss in the beginning and them smelling bad, feeling bad, and often collapsing at fire scenes when they had to exert themselves. “

It is not possible to be healthy and strong on a keto diet.

Your body requires carbs at anything above 70% max heart rate. It’s simply not an option.

70% is a mild exertion.

[dfwgator]

Your body can produce carbs on their own without having to eat them.

And the Keto diet is not just meat, most Keto proponents will tell you that you must eat a lot of green leafy vegetables, and too much meat is too much protein, which will contribute to Insulin Resistance.

[Mariner]

“It is a lifetime commitment not a resolution.”

Amen.

Every single day most people choose how they will die.

In their sleep at 96, or slowly wasting away from 50 to 80yrs, finally unable to wipe their own ass.

[dfwgator]

In their sleep at 96

Unlike the screaming passengers in their car.

[Freedom4US]

While you are (obviously) technically correct, in the shorter term (weeks) it is extremely frustrating to watch the weight scale seemingly frozen in place despite ever more drastic calorie restriction. Very few have the determination to keep going. This is the “diets don’t work!” siren song in action.

Most people have completely unrealistic expectations, both on how long it will take to achieve fat loss, and also how many calories they really require for maintenance.

Nobody wants to admit this, the experts are loathe to inform anyone, maybe they don’t want to demoralize people, I dunno. There is no “easy” way out, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, but it will require motivation, perseverance and discipline. Time tested positive character traits are considered “bad” (or something) so it’s little wonder everyone is porking out after being locked down in their apartment with a pallet of Cheetohs for two plus years (going on three).

Who could gave known this would happen? /s