Is Your Diet Making You Fat?

How many of you are dieters? Most I bet. I admit, once I gained my "freshman 15 (actually more like 30), I started dieting. Everything I read said I needed about 1200 calories, so that's what I ate. And, it wasn't necessarily healthier foods- I was just trying to reduce my calories. Thankfully I was never an extreme dieter and never went below 1000 calories, but I know some females (and males!) think that in order to lose weight, they should eat the smallest amount possible. Well what if I told you that you were doing it all wrong? What if I told you that dropping your calories could actually make you more prone to obesity?

Part of this is due to the fact that you have thrown your body out of balance and can decrease your metabolism drastically. Another problem with dieting is that it is a temporary fix. Most dieters are done within 30 days, and then their body wants to make up for those calories that were lost and they turn to binge eating. How many of you are guilty of eating a HUGE meal the day before you start dieting because it is your "last cheat meal," or have devoured a whole pizza once your diet was over? Diets are temporary, and that's why most people diet fairly regularly- it's not a lasting fix.

A diet doesn't allow you to change your lifestyle habits, it just has you follow a set of 'rules.' In order to really lose weight and not gain it back, you need to change your mindset.
1) Food is nourishment. Food is meant to keep you healthy, feed your brain, and give you energy. Stop thinking of food as something to 'do' when you are bored or depressed. Start thinking of it as something to make you feel better long-term, not immediately.
2) Healthy foods aren't gross. Seriously, they aren't. Think of your favorite foods and then modify them with whole foods that haven't been refined or processed. Are you a pizza lover? I am. Buy a whole wheat crust or if you're really savvy, make a cauliflower crust (google it, it's delicious). Top it with homemade pesto, chicken, artichokes, etc. Trust me, it tastes just as good if not BETTER than take out. Are you an ice cream lover? Great, make a protein ice cream made up of bananas, peanut butter, protein powder and ice, and eat it right before bed (you'll sleep better). You can still eat your favorite foods, they just need to be modified.
3) Start exercising. Yes, nutrition is 85% of losing weight, but exercise is the rest. If you are just starting out, begin by walking 15 minutes a day or going for a light jog. Work up to a point where you are lifting weights 2x weekly and doing a form of cardio 3x weekly. 30 minutes a day is all you need, and sadly that is more than half of what American's get.
4) Get help. Don't do it alone. Find a friend who wants to make a lifestyle change. Ask a family member to help you through it. If you have someone who will hold you accountable, you'll be more likely to follow through.
5) Reward yourself. Changing your lifestyle is a goal. If you meet your goal, purchase a new outfit, buy a new set of weights, treat yourself to a manicure. Do what makes you feel good. If you tell yourself that there is a reward at the end (or along the way!), you'll be more inclined to stick with it.

I am still trying to lose body fat. While I have lost a bit, I still have a little chunk in my tummy from years of unhealthy eating. Am I dieting? Nope! I have actually increased my calories quite a bit and am seeing results. Weird, huh? So the video below was made by Dr. Layne Norton. I highly recommend looking up some of his work. He has done extensive research on the negative effects of dieting and comments on it below. The video is a bit long so I would suggest skipping to the 20min mark if you don't want to watch the whole thing :)