Opinions Wanted

[Diet Coach]

As my handle implies I work with dieters but as any of you know weightloss success is not easy and there are a lot of differing opinions as to why so many people are overweight and why they struggle getting weight off and keeping it off.

When it come to doing what is requrired to lose weight and keep it off ie consuming less calories than you burn/maintaining the correct number of calories do you think it is a matter of CAN'T do what's required or WON'T do what's required?

Please elaborate on why you chose can't or won't.

Thanks

 

[Diet Coach]

Replies: 0
Views: 111 so far and nobody has offered and opinion. I think that this is an important question that dieters would be wise to answer. I believe that when you find that answer weight loss will be less of a mystery and a more achievable goal.

 

[ijustwannabefit]

I believe it is both. People's perceptions and priorities decide whether they can't or won't -either way, its thier reality (and you may perceive it differently) . In my opinion it is a psychological/philosophical thing more so than a physical thing, with the exception of people with medical reasons for not being able to lose weight. Weight loss is sometimes more complex than calories In/out.

 

[Diet Coach]

I think it probably is both but with a few caveats. If a dieter came to me and I locked them in a cell and barely fed them they would lose weight so in a sense that cancels out can't but left in the real world the line blurs. There really are no physical things that prevent weightloss but there are biological reason that make obesity easier so in a sense someone who has agonists such as medicine that increases appetite, inadequate nutrional information and food addiction will probably not be successful unless they have unsual will power and discipline. If they are given the wrong tool they proably will fail as well.

As a coach I reject the can't scenario and I won't even imply it to my clients.

I think the reason for why people get fat and stay fat are complex and varied but that does not mean the solution needs to be complex. It does have to be flexible and doable. It helps if they know it is doable. Sadly there is a lot of misinformation and confusing notions. Let's take something like Jenny Craig. It's pretty much Lean Cuisine but more expensive and not as tasty.

I also think that the medical industry has a vested interest in keeping people fat.

Based on everything I have studied the only way to lose weight is to input less calories than you output. I also have found that the people who are successful long term are vigilant about counting calories. With the food available today it is very easy to eat too much and it's important for people to understand that. Here is an example. The average moderately active woman needs 2000 to maintain 130 lbs. If she gets a double latte and a couple of donuts that could bump her up to 700 extra calories. That will put her at 190 pounds. In my experience when dieters know how easy it is to get too many calories these day they see things more clearly and they see some light at the end of the tunnel. That one small piece of knowledge allows them to see some light at the end of the tunnel. When they see it in clear non judgemental terms they become more hopeful. Suddenly can't looks more like can.

 

[mrxian]

I've been dieting for a good month now, and from time to time it's been a real struggle.
What surprised me the most is how similar the diet feels to quitting smoking. I get the same urges, bouts of restlessness, pacing around my home, feeling of something being amiss... I think you should consider the fact that eating can be an addiction, which can be hard to break.

 

[shernanigans]

When people hear the word 'diet' all they think is that they only have to eat salads. Yes the less calories you eat the more your body will lose weight but there are so many ways of eating 'healthy'. You don't have to sacrifice everything you love eating. Yes I highly recommend you exercise to get better results but your body also needs all the nutrients to help keep it going. Losing weight is a struggle for so many people and the first thing they have to do is realize what they are eating and how much calories they are consuming and not burning them off. I've been on my diet for a while and I'm halfway to my goal. Yes I've definitely cut out alot of calories such as no more eating fast food, high calorie foods, no more junk food and I exercise almost everyday but I have a cheat day also. I don't go to a buffet and stuff myself but I do get something that I'm craving for and eat it in moderation. The key word is MODERATION. You can eat anything you want but eat it in moderation. And if you eat all those calories, make it a priority to yourself to burn those calories away.