When we step outside our addictions to our life scripts
and observe our actions, thoughts and feelings
without judgement or attachment
and make choices from this place
that fully support our health and wellbeing
then we are truly 'eating consciously'.


- Jacqui Brooks

Sunday 12 October 2008

Why Crash Diets Don't Work



Research clearly shows that crash diets don't work.

This is because by drastically reducing your calorie intake (crash dieting), you’re actually reducing the rate your body can burn calories. If your aim is to lose weight, then dramatically reducing your intake of energy (produced by food) over a short period of time is not the way to go.

When you crash diet your body uses up its carbohydrate stores (known as glycogen) in the liver and muscles. Because water is stored with glycogen in the body, you will lose weight quickly. However, most of this weight loss will be water and muscle. Because muscle is directly related to your metabolism your body will end up burning calories at a slower rate than normal.

People who crash diet, tend to put weight back on quicker than those who follow a long-term healthy eating plan. This is because once you've stopped your crash diet your slow metabolism will not be able to process the increase in calories. These calories will be stored as fat meaning you end up putting on more weight than when you started.

If you crash diet you may lose weight quickly, but you are unlikely to keep it off.
Once you have lost weight, you will still need to change your eating habits for good, to prevent piling the pounds back on.

Crash diets also weaken your willpower.


(National Health Service - online)

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