Ever Wonder Why "Weight Loss" Diets Never Seem to Work?

Did you know that as of today, there is NOT A SINGLE weight loss program that has resulted in long-term weight loss maintenance or even significant weight loss within the majority of participants? Yet, as of February 2019, the U.S. weight loss industry was reported as a 72 BILLION dollar market! Where is the disconnect?! Why are millions of Americans investing in a market that cannot seem to produce real results?

The reality is that we all have an inherent desire to look and feel good. We all search for a certain sense of validation that we are just that… good. If we look good, we’re fine. If we feel good, we’re fine. If we define ourselves by eating ‘good’ foods… we’re on the right track. With so many foods being slapped with stigmas of good and bad, healthy and unhealthy; eating the right way or messing up our diets, we become an easy target for industry to play on those emotions, reminding us that if we change according to their standards, we’ll finally be accepted and identifiable as “good”.

I remember the very moment that the food stigma wormed its way into my stigma. I was probably only 4 or 5 at most. My sister had been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes (JD) and my parents had registered her in a JD program for kids her age. They had a party to which siblings were invited and there was a mini-education session where they talked about the foods that were bad for these kids- and they kept listing foods with sugar in them. My little kid brain just could not accept that since I liked treats, I was bad. It made NO sense to me. I was a ‘good’ kid… why did the food I liked to change?

I didn’t obsess over it in any way- I had a pretty normal and happy childhood. But I’ve certainly paid close attention to people’s attitudes related to food for as long as I can remember. It’s taken me 15+ years of studying and coaching nutrition to finally come to an understanding of that missing piece.

The reality is- weight loss diets are popularized by experts in their fields. They’ve researched, practiced, and perfected their approaches, and they have ALL the answers for what will make me happy and feel “good”. Malcolm Gladwell, author of “Outliers” specifies that people of mastery spend at least 10,000 hours of dedicated practice on their subject. No doubt these experts have done so and should be commended.

But- what they aren’t is experts on me. They haven’t even spent 5 minutes with me… and in reality, I only exist in their world as an opt-in email address. How do they know what works for me? The reality is they don’t. So, it stands to reason that if I’m dedicating myself to an entire lifestyle change based on the false premise that someone I’ve never met is my expert- what chance do I have of success?

I’ve discovered in all my years of professional study, and practice, and my 10,000 hours that while I have expertise in nutrition therapy and behavior, I’m certainly not an expert on the individuals I work with. Successes come in partnering with my clients and respecting the expertise of their approaches, behaviors, talents, and skills. Through a collaborative effort and sharing of expertise, we find success together. I’m only a piece of the bigger picture, but my role is incomplete without my clients’ expertise.

My belief is that piece is what is missing in the weight loss industry. Most programs rely on marketing, advertising, and the few testimonials they can post… all based on a false premise that it only takes one side of expertise.

So what is my challenge to you? If you’re looking to figure out how to be healthy- your first step toward success is realizing and accessing the expert within you. Find health experts that see the value and critical role of your perspective and insights in developing your plan of action. Join your healthcare team, rather than just letting them tell you what to do. Approach your health as a collaborator. You’ll be amazed at what you find and where it takes you!