The answer is yes. Of course diets work. No matter which one you choose, if you follow the rules, and do exactly what you are told, you will lose weight. Does dieting work long term? Well thats a different question all together. See, dieting is complicated. While the science behind fat loss is a simple equation, human beings are not simple. We must as health professionals stop treating patients and clients as if they are text book, like everyone is the same. We are all different, with different physiology, and while for some, the calories in vs calories out is sufficient, for many it is not. 

When someone decides to go on a diet to lose weight, or body fat for the want of better terminology, it is because they want to change. Usually this is in a desperate energy. No one ever goes on a diet because they are really happy. Dieting for many, usually means restricting, it means cutting things out, cutting down, doing everything and anything one can to lose weight quickly. This is where the problem lies. People are wanting weight loss results quickly. They want to feel better quickly. They are desperate to feel and look better, quickly. 

Often when someone starts a diet they look at the results others have had, and what time scale they have achieved it in. It isn't really considered how they as an individual may feel on it, or how easy/hard it may be to implement into their daily life. This then can lead to diet cycling. Trying to find the one diet that works.

When we diet cycle though we start entering the minefield of mindset, feelings and emotions. Trying diet after diet and struggling to stick to it, or not losing the weight even though you tried so hard, can lead to feelings of failure, low self esteem, low self worth, desperation and helplessness. With all that, and the physical feeling of wanting a different body, we head down a rough road of developing a bad relationship with food and body. It is understandable why health and fitness professionals want to steer you away from dieting. Overall, it can be detrimental to your wellbeing. 

So what do we do? if we want to lose weight, but counting the calories just doesn't do it for you. Well all diets work off the same premise of calorie deficit. There isn't a magic food, or supplement out there that will magically make body fat disappear. However, when you really start to connect with yourself, and leaning into understanding how you feel with the foods you eat, it can make it easier to "stick to plan" 

If you find that eating a diet high in carbohydrates,  slows you down, making you feel sluggish, or bloated , and you want to opt for low carb dietary choices, then do so. Unless someone is looking at your blood work and medical history, how can they say it is not good for you ? 

If you choose to go plant based, because you find eating animal produce make you feel bloated, slow, or other ailments are aggravated, then who is anyone to say you shouldn't do it?

Truth is no one will ever know your own body more than you. It is good practice though that when making changes to your diet, if it involves reducing or cutting out a food group, that you consult with a health care professional, so they can ensure you are safe and not running the risk of malnourishment. A health care professional can support you with your nutritional wellbeing, helping you achieve your weight loss goals, while keeping you safe and healthy. 

When you start to feel well, less fatigued, less bloated, and less stressed and unhappy, you will the find that it is much easier to keep to the healthy eating, the calorie deficit and also maybe taking up more physical activity. 

Overall I believe we need to step away from the dictatorship in the health and fitness industry in telling people there is only one way, and shaming anyone that dares to step out of the narrative someone holds. The beauty of there been many different ways to achieve calorie deficit, and lose body fat, is that there is something for everyone, no matter what struggles or barriers they are currently facing. Help is available. Is it accessible? Well that is for another blog. 

Louise x

Health Coach