Why Your Diet is Making You Fat

Is your diet making you fat? Read this article and learn more about why diets make you fat and how to get real results fast.

diet fat
Photo credit Toni Alejandria

Is your diet making you fat?

Ok we have to talk.

I’m tired of you telling me your diet didn’t work. You gained back the weight you lost and now you feel sad, frustrated, and “hangry” (hungry/angry). So now you are looking for the next quick solution to “fix” your weight and solve your food problems.

Look, I want to help you. But I’ll be honest: if you want to have a breakthrough you are going to need to let the diets GO. You’ll need to give up the cleanses, fasts, 5/10/20/30 day programs, and fixes. You’ll have to stop the extremes, the yo-yoing, the guilt tripping, and get off the trendy rollercoaster ride of eating. Are you ready to do that? Can you work for a balanced, moderate diet? It might be time to change your relationship with food and how you choose to eat…. because let’s face it: your diet is making you fat.

How Diets Make You Fat

Diets are inherently made to fail. If you don’t believe me, how do you think the weight loss industry maintains it’s multi-billion dollar status each year? If diets work, then they should go out of business because everyone who goes on a diet will lose their weight and keep it off. Instead, diets are made to NOT work so that you will continue to need books, expensive rabbit food, magical elixirs, pills and potions and other nonsense to try to reach your goals.

The problems with diets are simple. Here are a few illustrations of how things can go from bad to worse very quickly:

  • too few Calories leads to
  • being hungry, which leads to
  • food cravings, which leads to
  • bingeing, weight gain, calling it quits, which leads to
  • feelings of guilt, shame, being “out of control” and a failure, which leads to
  • “getting serious this time”, re-committing, “building willpower”, trying a different diet, which leads to
  • the same cycle (or a different but equally damaging cycle)

Here’s another common scenario:

  • rigid food rules about what and when you eat lead to
  • feelings of deprivation, lack of freedom, rebellion, being trapped or controlled which leads to
  • breaking food rules, which leads to
  • feelings of guilt, shame, being “out of control” and a failure, which leads to (sound familiar?)
  • the same cycle (or a different but equally damaging cycle)

And if I haven’t been convincing enough, here’s one more:

  • weight loss from restrictive eating and exercising more leads to
  • a damaged metabolism where you are maintaining your weight on 1,000 Calories a day, which leads to
  • increased physiological drive to eat (hello hunger and cravings), which leads to
  • eating more than 1,000 Calories a day, which leads to
  • rapid weight regain, which leads to
  • feelings of guilt, shame, being “out of control” and a failure, which leads to (sound familiar?)
  • the same or different cycle

All these cycles end up with you ending the diet, being upset at yourself (instead of the stupid diet), and weighing the same as when you started the diet (or more) but now also being self-critical, discouraged, angry, etc.

Its time to ignore the hype and lose the extremes. If a program offers “instant” results—AKA, 30 days or less—it is probably either complete  nonsense or extremely unhealthy. As fabulous as it would be to go from size 12 to size 6 in one month, it’s simply not feasible or sustainable. The kinds of diets that promise this kind of impossibly fast change are usually those that encourage you to starve yourself and deprive your body of essential nutrients in favor of dropping pounds or getting “lean” for your swimsuit. This is unsustainable because your body can’t function off of salads or juices for long before it starts deteriorating. You’re also pretty much guaranteed to gain back the weight afterward.

If you really want to find a healthy weight and lasting change that doesn’t mess with your mind,  avoid falling into the “quick fix” trap and instead make small healthy consistent changes. Many studies have shown those who focus on slow and steady diet changes are far better at sustaining it. Start small and make healthy diet changes that work for you. Eat a better breakfast, have one less glass of wine, eat more veggies, watch your portion sizes, drink more water, enjoy dessert 2 nights a week instead of 7, take out artificial sweeteners, eat more fiber, cut back on how many drinks you have at happy hour…. It all adds up and equals a healthier you. 

For example: one of my clients started packing healthy lunches to take to work. She’s noticed a jump in her energy levels, has lost 5 pounds, and is saving money on eating out. Another client has given up drinking alcohol on the weeknights. She sleeps better, feels less stressed, and yes, you guessed it, her weight has dropped. Another client fights stress with movement. Instead of hitting the work candy jar when she feels overwhelmed, she stands up to do a few stretches and deep breathing exercises at her desk. After a few minutes of exercise, her sugar cravings are gone, her mind feels clear, and she continues on with her work day with less stress and more energy. Small changes work. Really! Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day – the secret to lasting lifestyle change is to create healthy habits and keep going in a positive direction. Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.

Maybe you think that if you could just find the right diet or just lose the last 5 pounds it would solve all your problems. I hate to break it to you but it wont. You have to face those on your own. But I can guarantee you that when you have a healthy relationship to yourself you’ll find a healthy relationship to food and how you eat. It starts with you. And you can choose to have a positive relationship to your diet now.

Your body wants you to eat well. Eating healthy foods makes you feel better and have more energy, along with reducing digestion problems and mood swings. Eating for energy means eating clean, eating regularly, and eating light. Be moderate with alcohol, stay away from emotional eating, and MOVE more! Within a short period of time your days and nights will not only be filled but fulfilled.

So drop the diet. Just eat HEALTHY. There is no quick fix diet out there that will do what healthy eating does. Not to mention  if you go “on a diet” it means you’ll eventually have to go off of it. Which slows your metabolism, messes with your weight, and makes you feel bad about yourself. Want lasting, healthy, positive change that doesn’t have a yo-yo effect? Improve your relationship to food and choose to nourish yourself. Don’t just eat salads or jump on the next 30 day nothing but juice fix. Take the time to learn about nutrition and define what your body needs to eat to feel amazing. Yes it’s hard. Yes it takes time, consistency, and commitment. It’s not a quick fix and it’s not over in 30 days. It’s a lifetime of trial, error, self-discovery, development, and growth.  And you know what? It’s worth every second and ounce of effort. Because YOU are worth it. You deserve to live a life that feels good and that lasts longer than any quick fix.

Heres to you, living a life you love.

Caroline

Are you ready to learn how to listen to what your body needs and eat well? Join my Strong Body Beautiful program and get tools and tips to stay consistent and balanced, overcome plateaus, and find a healthy relationship with exercise and food. Enroll here. 

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2 Replies to “Why Your Diet is Making You Fat”

  1. Oh this is so true.
    As humans, we do tend to swing violently from one crazy direction to the other in most things, not just eating. We survive daily on little ‘fixes’ and a guilt and reward system. I know this all too well. Being anorexic (dangerously so) in my early years has led to a bizarre relationship with food, and of course, some health issues. I am searching for that ‘right’ relationship and the joy of proper nourishment. I desire more than anything to ‘thrive’ once more.
    These words of your are so wise, refreshing and enlightening and I thank you Caroline, from the bottom of my heart. You could not be more right in your thinking here!

  2. This is exactly what I need! I try so hard to eat healthy. I have colitis and have gluten/dairy sensitivities. Fresh veggies are a problem for me so I try to eat them in smaller quantities. I don’t eat red meat or pork. Trying to get more fish in my diet. Following you has been a life saver. You are an inspiration!

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