5 Signs you’re on the Wrong Diet Programme

Amy Taylor April 09, 2014

Search “how to lose weight” on Google and you will have about 368,000,000 results. Losing weight is such a big deal nowadays, with more and more people becoming obese. There’s no wonder why diet fads have become a big hit. Lots of pharmaceutical companies are earning billions each year from selling pills, supplements, teas and other products that promise big results in no time. Other weight loss programmes involve no drugs but require you to make an extreme diet overhaul – asking you to eat or drink nothing but certain foods for several weeks or months.

Whilst they could make your jaw drop after hearing about how you could lose weight and get into that bikini body, there are diet programmes that are really not worth your attention, money and effort. So how do you know you’re on the wrong diet programme? Check out the following signs.

It’s causing you so much distress.

Do you have to stop attending social gatherings and family dinners because your diet does not allow you to eat anything except some smoothie? Dieting may require lots of effort and hard work for you. But at the end of the day, you feel satisfied and fulfilled because you know it’s for your body’s sake. And even though your diet can mean social discomfort at first, it should not make you feel burned out, stressed and helpless.  

It saps your wallet.

It isn’t true that dieting is expensive. You need not buy pricey supplements to boost your metabolism and turn on your body’s fat-burning state. Actually, the best weight loss strategies are free. They include regular physical activity, quality rest and sleep, and a healthy diet. It doesn’t matter if you are buying organic fruits and vegetables or not. There’s still no clear scientific evidence suggesting that organic is healthier than the varieties commonly sold in grocery stores. Effective metabolism-boosters like tea, herbs and spices can be purchased cheaply. You don’t always have to spend all your salary on weight loss pills.

It cuts out entire food groups.

Each major food group provides a variety of extremely important nutrients your body need to stay fit and healthy. Cut out fruits, grains and vegetables and your body will become more susceptible to illnesses. Take away all the fats and you won’t have enough energy to sustain your daily physical activities. If your diet programme only calls for a single type of food to eat, it’s time to look for a new one. Or else, you are likely to suffer from nutritional deficiency.

It focuses on a temporary diet plan, not habit changes.

The first days or weeks of a diet fad may really seem exciting and motivating. But does it offer you a long-term solution to your weight gain issues? If your diet program is focused on a temporary fix, you are just wasting time and money. A great diet programme is one that inspires you to change bad habits like binge eating, poor food choice, and inactivity.

It doesn’t make you feel good unless you lose weight.

Exercise is a great weight-reduction strategy because it makes you feel good about yourself even if you haven’t seen any results yet. That’s because every time you break a sweat, your brain releases endorphins – hormones that boost your mood. What’s more, exercise encourages you to engage in healthier habits and stick to them.

Losing weight is not easy but not too difficult either. There’s no magic formula for weight loss success and you can’t just burn fats in one straight blow. If you want consistent results, opt for diet programmes that motivate you to adopt healthy habits, have long-term benefits, do not cut out major food groups, don’t require pricey supplements, and don’t make you feel distressed.