Choosing whether a nutrition plan is right for you can be difficult. New programs continue to attract consumers with claims to promote “quick” weight loss with little effort.
Unfortunately, many diet programs and nutrition plans lack the necessary data to support their claims of lasting weight loss. Most commercial nutrition plans only provide a short-term answer to the problem of being overweight.
Many people become quickly dissatisfied with the restrictive diets that most commercial diet programs and nutrition plan offer.
Some of these programs provide very low-calorie diets (1000 calories per day) and require weigh-ins.
Others require clients to purchase their pre-packaged low-fat meals which can be very expensive.
Pre-packaged meals are appealing because the difficult choice about what to eat is avoided. However, in the long-run, maintaining weight loss may be difficult because meal planning skills for a long-lasting change are not taught.
Other diets such as liquid meal replacement plans may be harmful because over time they can cause nutritional deficiencies. Also, due to the unrealistic expectations associated with these products, consumers are often left with only a sense of guilt and failure.
It is difficult to stick with these programs and lose weight.
Studies show that fad diets usually result in the regaining of weight lost and, in many cases, more weight was regained than was originally lost.
Studies have also shown that exercise should be a necessary part of any weight loss program and is critical in keeping weight off.
To evaluate whether a commercial diet program or nutrition plan offers you a safe and healthy way to lose weight, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the nutrition plan exclude any of the major food groups?
- Does the diet exclude any certain foods that may be “bad?”
- Is a “quick fix” promised versus a gradual weight loss?
- Is a diet of less than 1200 calories per day recommended?
- Does the program exclude behavior modification and exercise components?
If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, then I would suggest the nutrition plan is probably NOT a healthy choice. Remember, gradual changes in eating behaviors include:
Remember, gradual changes in eating behaviours include:
- the intake of a variety of foods; and
- daily exercise and activity
These steps will result in a slow weight loss of half to one kilo per week. Ask for advice from your healthcare provider before choosing a commercial weight loss program.
If you are considering embarking on a diet or nutrition plan I recommend you ask for advice from your healthcare provider or give the team at Healthy Glow PT in Woodvale a call on 9309 2532.
For further information on fat loss, improving health and functional fitness, call Steve and the team at HEALTHY GLOW PT in Woodvale (next to IGA) on 9309 2532 or CLICK HERE to fill in our FREE Consult form.
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