Why Don’t Diets Work? What DOES work?

Diet after diet, after diet… does it ever feel like you’ve tried over and over to get a handle on your weight, and you do really well for a few days, maybe even a few weeks? Then comes the lack of results… you find yourself dealing with more stress, and deciding to let go just once…

The trouble with diet trends is that they tend to be high-impact, restrictive, and more often than not… less healthy. 

Our bodies are complex systems that require lots of different nutrients to do the miraculous things it does best- to keep us alive. Not just breathing, but filtering that air and using the molecules to build and transport healthy cells to new places throughout your body. Not just a heart pumping but bringing nutrients to support the vital organs that keep your body going on a day-to-day basis. Not just eating but supporting an entire ecosystem in your gut that balances your hormones, neurons, and critical thinking skills. 

 Not getting enough of any nutrients can cause more trouble for your body- and most trendy diets involve restricting many of those important nutrients.

Rather than going the “all or none” approach that comes with dieting… try these steps of Open Eating… This is how you get to a path that works long-term, and helps you get more than just weight loss- you get more energy, a clearer mind, better digestion, less pain, and the ability to be more active… all of the things that help you reach your weight loss goals too! So, you get way more than you bargained for, and it’s SO MUCH more ENJOYABLE!

Step 1: Don’t focus on food at all… focus on what matters most!

What would you do if the food wasn’t your primary focus? What would you do with it if you met your weight goals or had more energy? What truly motivates you? If your sights are focused here, it makes the rest of the steps worth it:)

Step 2: Start to manage your eating through movement… simple, natural movement

As you begin to move more, it changes your appetite. On days that I don’t move, I get more tired and want to eat more to try to get the energy I need throughout the day. When my body is sedentary, it doesn’t focus on creating more energy that won’t be used. But when I move, my body uses the energy to help me move, which helps to detox my body, and then it uses my nutrition to create more energy to help continue to protect my body. 

The more I move, the more stable my appetite is. It’s easy to determine when I’m truly hungry versus when I’m bored, tired, or even emotional. Simple movements like walking, spinning, dancing with the kids, or even just stretching are a great start.

Step 3. Don’t go all or none… thing 80/20

If you go ALL in on perfect eating, you’ll either find yourself in a “fall off the bandwagon” sort of eating or feel like a constant failure. You have real habits that guide your everyday eating and you can build on those. Choose a few small things that you can change that have big payoffs. Aim to get them right 80% of the time, and allow yourself to WIN by doing good enough. Challenges are won through trying, sometimes failing, and learning what a failure is or isn’t, and then trying again. If you’re aiming for perfection, you’ll never learn the lessons you need along the way. 80% is still incredible!

Step 4: Connect with what and WHO is important

Research has consistently found that people who strive for healthy lifestyles are more successful when they share their goals and challenges with their families and friends. The more aligned you are with those who support you best, the more you’ll find yourself overcoming those challenges and meeting those goals. 

Where should you start for better nutrition?

If there is one thing I recommend starting with… it is adding more plants and more proteins to your foods. They help to provide you with the right amount of energy, and the fiber necessary to support your gut, and they help keep your hunger and cravings stable. The movement puts a magnifying glass on all of these efforts.

Start small and add a bit more. Start with an extra 1 cup of vegetables every day. Make ½ cup of beans or lentils, and make the other half a new rainbow color every day until you cover all the colors. Start there and you’ll begin to see the benefits immediately! 

Happy Open Eating!