Why do most diets fail?
The reason is......because we believe more heavily in 'the diet' than we do in our ability to change.
What do I mean by this?
Why do you think we there are so many diet books on bookshop shelves? Because we believe there is one magical solution out there that will solve our weight gain problems, so book sellers and diet creators keep giving us what we believe we need more of. People buy millions of diet books each year but nothing really changes when it comes to our waistlines. I don't know about you but I have tried LOTS of diets, and once believe in the 'magic' of the Paleo diet. This was until I learned more (the hard way) and understood the basic reason why MOST diets 'can' work. Most diets can be effective as a result of placing a person in a calorie deficit. This means that they work because they encourage you to eat less than you were. Sounds so simple doesn't it.
So let's go back to why most diets fail - In simple terms, diets fail because we believe that the next 'diet book' will offer us a magic solution that allows us to lose weight without doing the hard work needed. If we start from a place of believing that the 'new diet' is the solution, we can easily forget about the role we play in making this change happen.
Understanding yourself
The best diet book you can buy is one that helps you to understand yourself better.
Why do you make the choices that you make and how can you help yourself to make different ones?
Which choices sent you down the path of weight gain in the first place?
What can YOU do about these choices?
What can you change?
Do you need help making these changes?
Changing is brave
It takes bravery to change. It is hard to look at our how our choices keep us stuck in negative cycle of weight gain and punishment with strict diets. Did your last 'diet book' ask you about your emotional health, stress levels, negative self-talk and coping mechanisms?
Different strokes for different folks
I will say that different diets suit different people better, but this doesn't mean there is one 'magical' diet solution for everyone. If you prefer eating low-carb or carnivore and it helps you to lose weight, go for it. If you prefer to be a vegetarian or vegan because it helps you to stick with the program, YAY, this is a good solution for you. If your friend is desperately trying to convince you to do a juice fast because it worked for them, keep an open mind that it may not be a good solution for you and it doesn't really get to the core of the reason why you are gaining weight.
I know that nutrition can seem confusing and conflicting, so if you need more help please reach out. I can help you find the best solution for you that empowers you to learn how to understand yourself better so that this is the last 'diet' you need to follow ever.
Melanie Briony
