Diets Don't Work

Putting on weight around the middle has got to be the number one complaint from women in their 40s.

That unwelcome roll of fat around the middle is an unfortunate effect of changing hormones in peri menopause.

All through our reproductive years our sex hormones (oestrogen, progesterone & testosterone) are pre dispositioned towards childbirth). They are released to ensure healthy sexual and reproductive development.

However, as we approach menopause, the landscape shifts, our sex hormones generally start fluctuating. Oestrogen & progesterone levels begin to wane, leading to changes that reverberate throughout the body.

One of the changes is the redistribution of fat from the lower body to the midsection as fat tissue also stores oestrogen.

Beyond its role in fat storage, oestrogen also interacts with appetite regulation and muscle mass maintenance, making its gradual loss during menopause a significant factor in the challenges many experiences with weight management.

Our bodies tend to store rather than burn fat and our metabolism also slows down as we age. You will have probably noticed that you need to do more to keep the weight off, than previously.

As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and muscle burns more calories than fat—even at rest.

The negative consequences of dieting:-

 1.    Long term weight gain

Several large-scale prospective studies have suggested that dieting to lose weight is associated with future weight gain and obesity.

Most people will regain the weight they lost between 1-5yrs and many will end up with a higher weight than when they started.

Our body is designed to protect us from danger; it replenishes our fat stores as a source of energy to protect us from another famine.

It also reduces the number of calories we burn at rest as it is trying to conserve them.

Any muscle you lost while dieting will go back on as fat.

Also post dieting our hormones increase our drive to eat which is another protective strategy.

2. Slowed metabolism

When we reduce calories our metabolism slows down to conserve energy and metabolism naturally slows with age.

3. Increased cravings

Hunger hormones like ghrelin spike as our body is trying to make us eat. This makes you crave carbs and sugary food. While leptin which helps us feel full decreases.

Your body is pushing you to eat which is not lack of will power but physiology.

4. Feelings of guilt & shame around food

It’s difficult to have a balanced view, rollercoaster mentality again, which inevitably leads to feelings of guilt. You feel like there is something wrong with you because you haven’t got the will power to push through.

5. Diets will fail

Diets are not sustainable or realistic in the long run. Many diets are designed this way on purpose to make money.

6. Negative impact on mental health

It is so easy to get into the cycle of dieting which can lead to despondency, depression low-self-esteem and overall psychological distress.

7. Socially isolating

Dieting can hold you back from doing the things you love with the people you love, then it isn’t healthy.

You may skip social events or stress about travel and parties because you don’t then have as much control over their food choices.

Calorie counting (which stems from the diet culture) can quickly spiral into an obsessive habit that takes joy out of eating and consumes your life. 

It can lead to an unhealthy fixation on food, which often exacerbates stress and negative emotions.

It’s time-consuming. Keeping track of every calorie you consume is a labour-intensive process. It eats away at your time, making mealtime a chore rather than a pleasure.

It can be counterproductive as it can lead to under eating which slows your metabolism.

Apps and online calculators provide generic estimates, but they lack the personalized touch necessary to determine what your unique body needs.

Calories on packaging may be off by up to 20 percent and you don’t need the same number of calories every day.

You were born with an internal calorie counter—a complex system involving hunger cues and satiety signals. Trusting your bodies signals along with nutrition guidance is everything you need to support your health and wellness.

It is possible to lose weight and keep it off!

You are unique. It is important that to lose weight you need to understand your relationship with food and what works for you.

A nutritionist will give you the tools and strategies for lasting change.

Book a free consultation with me and find out how!

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