Circumventing roadblocks to healthy weight loss

Why do some weight loss programs fail?

Diets, especially fad diets or “quick-fix” pills and plans, often set you up for failure because:

• You feel deprived. Diets that don’t allow certain types of food (carbs, fat, sugar) in moderation are simply not practical, not to mention unhealthy – eliminating entire food groups doesn’t allow for a healthy, well-rounded diet and creates imbalances in our bodies.
• You “plateau” after losing a few pounds. There’s actually a second component to healthy weight loss: exercise. Often your body adjusts to a new way of eating, and it’s only with increased physical activity that the pounds will continue to melt away.
• You lose weight, but can’t keep it off. Diets that severely cut calories, restrict certain foods, or rely on ready-made meals might work in the short term. However, once you meet your weight loss goal, you have no means of lifelong, healthy diet maintenance, and the pounds quickly come back.
• After your diet, you seem to put on weight more quickly. Restricting your food intake slows down your metabolism – another reason why starvation or “fasting” diets are counterproductive.
• You break your diet and feel too discouraged to try again. Just because you gave in to temptation and overindulged, doesn’t mean all your hard work goes down the drain. Healthy eating is about the big picture – an occasional splurge won’t kill your efforts. And again, diets that are too restrictive are conducive to cheating – when you feel deprived, it’s easy to fall off the wagon.
• You lose money faster than you lose weight. Special shakes, meals, and programs may be cost-prohibitive and less practical for long-term weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.
• You feel isolated and unable to enjoy social situations revolving around food. Without some practical, healthy diet strategies, you may feel lost when dining out or attending events like cocktail parties or weddings. If the food served isn’t on your specific diet plan, what can you do?
• The person on the commercial lost 30 lbs in 2 months – and you haven’t. Diet companies make a lot of grandiose promises, and most are simply not realistic. Unfortunately, losing weight is not easy, and anyone who makes it seem that way is doing you a disservice. Don’t get discouraged by setting unrealistic goals!

Why do some weight loss programs succeed?

While there is no “one size fits all” solution to lifelong, healthy weight loss, try these tips:

• Lifestyle Change – Permanent weight loss is not something that a “quick-fix” diet can achieve. Instead, think about weight loss as a permanent lifestyle change. You are making a commitment to your health for life. Various popular diets can help to jump-start your weight loss, but permanent changes in your lifestyle and food choices are what will work long term.
• Find a cheering section – Social support means a lot. Programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers use group support to impact weight loss and lifelong healthy eating. Seek out support, whether in the form of family, friends, or a support group, so that you can get the encouragement you need.
• Commit to a plan and stick to it – Experiment until you find a good, long-term plan that helps you lose the weight and maintain that loss in a way that works for you. If you cut out just 100 calories a day you could lose 10 pounds in a year. Remember one 12 oz can of a popular soda contains 150 calories.
• Lose weight slowly. Losing weight too fast can take a toll on your nervous system, making you feel sluggish, drained, and sick. When you drop a lot of weight quickly, you’re actually losing mostly water and muscle rather than fat. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week to ensure healthy weight loss.
• Stay motivated and keep track – Short-term goals, like wanting to fit into a bikini for the summer, usually don’t work as well as goals like wanting to feel more confident or become healthier for your children’s sakes. Keep a food journal or weigh yourself regularly. Find and use tools that help keep you motivated. Stay focused: when frustration and temptation strike, concentrate on the many benefits you will reap from being healthier and leaner.

Weight loss bottom line

Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. Gaining and losing weight (W) comes down to the simple calculation of calories consumed (CC), or in other words, what you eat, minus calories burned (CB) through metabolism and physical activity.

W = CC – CB

If you eat more calories than you burn then you gain weight or if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you lose weight. In order to lose one pound of fat per week, you need to eat about 500 calories less than your typical diet. Since 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound of fat, if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose approximately 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories). Remember, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound.

This does not mean that you need to eat less food. Instead, you need to consume fewer calories. With smart choices this is very doable. The key is to choose “low density” foods, which means foods that allow you to eat a larger portion sizes but that is lower in calories. These foods, including many fruits and vegetables, tend to contain more water and fiber. Try starting your meal with a low-density salad or soup (just watch the dressings and sodium) to help fill you up, so you eat less of your entrée. See below for some more easy calorie saving ideas.

Item	Calories*	Substitute	Calories*	Calories* Saved
Starbucks grande café late (16 oz.)	190	16 oz. coffee or tea	5	185
12 oz. can of regular cola	137	Club soda water with a squeeze of lemon or lime	2	135
1 medium glazed doughnut	239	1 apple	72	167
4-inch cinnamon-raisin bagel	243	2 pieces whole grain toast	138	105
3 oz. bag corn chips	441	2 large carrots with 2 tbsp. hummus	106	318
1 cup chocolate ice cream	285	1 cup strawberries	53	323
3 oz. bag plain salted potato chips	465	2 cups popcorn air-popped	62	403
Pancakes with butter & syrup	520	1 cup cooked oats	166	354

Sources: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, 2007 and www.starbucks.com. * Actual calories may vary by brand.

Reducing calorie intake promotes weight Loss – type of diet isn’t important

A major study concluded that it doesn’t matter which diet program you choose, as long as it is one that reduces your calorie intake and is healthy for your heart (low in saturated fat and cholesterol). See reference below.

Emotional and social components of healthy weight loss

Food isn’t just used to satisfy hunger – it is also a common part of social interactions and a means of comfort and stress relief. How we eat is also partially dictated by how we were raised – “clean your plate – there’s children starving in Africa” – and how the people around us eat. If your friends and relatives start packing on the pounds, you are more likely to do so as well.

What’s a healthy dieter to do? First, consider how and when you eat. Do you only eat when you are hungry, or do you reach for a snack while watching TV? Do you eat when you’re stressed or bored? To reward yourself? Also pay attention to how much sleep you are getting – lack of sleep has been shown to have a direct link to hunger and overeating.

Recognizing your emotional triggers can help make it easier for you to make changes. Once you realize your own personal challenges to weight loss, you can work towards gradually changing the habits and mental attitudes that have sabotaged your efforts in the past.

Is stress and anxiety contributing to your weight gain?

Stress eating is a common problem. Instead of self-medicating with food, try alternative means of stress relief.

Read Coping With Stress and How to Stop Worrying for tips and suggestions.

Mindful eating helps healthy weight loss

We live in a fast paced world where eating has become secondary. Counter this by paying attention to what you eat, savoring each bite, and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable. This also helps you achieve healthy weight loss and maintenance. Plus, when our minds are tuned out during mealtime, the digestive process may be 30% to 40% less effective. This can contribute to digestive distress, such as gas, bloating and bowel irregularities.

Mindful Eating tips for Healthy Weight Loss

• Pay attention while you are eating. Be aware of your environment, eat slowly, enjoy each bite – savor the smells and textures of your food. If your mind wanders, just gently remind yourself to return to focusing on your food and how it tastes and feels in your mouth.
• Avoid distractions while eating. Try not to eat while working, watching TV, reading, using a computer, or driving.
• Try mixing things up to force yourself to focus on the experience of eating – try using chopsticks rather than a fork, or use your utensils with your non-dominant hand.
• Chew your food thoroughly. Try chewing each bite 30 times before swallowing.
• Stop eating before you are full. Avoid the temptation to “clean your plate”. Yes, there are children starving in Africa, but you packing on the pounds won’t help them.
• Serve yourself a smaller portion and use small plates, bowls and cups. This will make your portions appear larger. If possible leave the table as soon as you are done. The longer you sit at the table, the more you will eat. If you are hungry later you can have a small healthy snack.
• Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time and don’t eat out of large bags or boxes. You will be more inclined to eat in moderation if you have thought out healthy meals and snacks in advance. You can buy or create your own small portion snacks in plastic bags or containers. Remember to only eat when you are truly hungry.

Tips for Healthy Weight Loss your Way

Eating and drinking tips

• Focus on fruits and veggies – The high water and fiber content in many fruits and vegetables make them ideal for healthy snacking and incorporation into meals. Add veggies to your favorite main courses (made from lean meats and whole grains) to make your dish “go” further. In addition, vitamins and nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help your overall health and vitality.
• Upgrade your carbohydrates – Switch from simple to complex carbohydrates. This means eating fewer products like white bread and white rice and eating more whole grains such as whole wheat bread, whole grain brown rice, millet, quinoa and barley. They give you long-term energy, and have a high-fiber content so you feel full longer.
• Experiment with protein. Protein keeps you full longer than carbohydrates, but most of us in the U.S. eat more animal protein than our bodies need. In addition, animal protein often comes with high amounts of fat. Figure out how much and what type of protein is the right amount for your body. Choose lean, high quality protein or vegetarian options like beans and nuts.
• Drink more water. You can easily reduce your daily calorie intake by replacing soda, alcohol or coffee with water. Thirst can also be confused with hunger, so by drinking water, you may avoid consuming extra calories, plus it will help you break down food more easily.
• Take a multivitamin. This will help you be sure that there are no nutrient gaps in your diet. But remember that it does not substitute for eating a healthy well balanced diet.

Soda: The Secret Diet Sabotager

Soft drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet, providing about 7 percent of calories. One can of soda pop contains between 10-12 teaspoons of sugar and around 150 calories, so a few soft drinks can quickly add up to a good portion of your daily calorie intake.

Cutting out soft drinks may be an easy way to help you lose some extra weight. Try switching to water with lemon, unsweetened iced tea, or an occasional spritzer made with a touch of juice (juice contains a lot of calories, so use just a taste) and carbonated water.

Lifestyle tips

• Get plenty of exercise – Exercise is a dieter’s best friend! It not only burns calories, but can actually improve your resting metabolism. No time for a long workout? Research shows that three 10-minute spurts of exercise per day are just as good as one 30-minute workout. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or park in the back of the parking lot. Every bit helps. See Exercise Guide for Exercise Haters
• Get proper sleep – Get proper sleep. People with improper sleep have a much higher risk of obesity. Exhaustion can make you feel hungrier, and impair your judgment. Aim for around 8 hours of good sleep a night. See Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep.
• Turn off the TV – You actually burn less calories watching television than you do sleeping! If you simply can’t miss your favorite shows, get a little workout in while watching – do easy exercises like squats, sit-ups, jogging in place, or using resistance bands or hand weights
• Cook your own meals – Cooking meals at home allows you to control both portion size and what goes in to the food. Restaurant and packaged foods generally contain a lot more sodium, fat, and calories than food cooked at home, plus the portions sizes tend to be larger.
• Make sure to shop when you are not hungry. Create a shopping list to stick to, and store tempting foods in cabinets or drawers out of your sight.
• Eat early, eat often. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism. And will help to keep you from binging later in the day. Likewise, “grazing” on healthful snacks like fruits, veggies and protein-packed almonds, and eating 6 small, healthful meals throughout the day, rather than the standard 3 large ones, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks.

Eating less red and processed meats reduces cancer risks.

A 10 year study of over 500,000 people age 50 - 71 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP showed a substantially higher risk (ranging from 20% to 60%) for certain types of cancers (esophageal, colorectal, liver and lung) among those people with a diet higher in red and processed meats as compared to people who ate less red and processed meats.

• Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb.
• Processed meats include hot dogs, bologna, bacon, sausage, packaged ham, packaged sandwich meats, pepperoni, salami and virtually all red meat used in frozen prepared meals.

The study ends with: “A decrease in the consumption of red and processed meat could reduce the incidence of cancer at multiple sites.”

More information at: NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study

Popular diets and weight loss programs

While a personalized plan may work better for you in the long run, many people do find success with well-known diet programs such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. And even if the popular commercial weight loss plans aren’t quite your style, some of them may provide the backbone of a program that does work for you. Keep in mind, it may take some experimenting to find the right diet for your individual body. It is important that you feel satisfied so that you can stick with it on a long-term basis. If one diet program doesn’t work, then try another one. There are many weight loss programs available.

See Analysis of Popular Weight Loss Plans for a comparison and analysis on some of the popular diet programs.

Related articles

Choosing a Diet Plan
The Pros and Cons of Popular Weight Loss Programs and Diets

Healthy Dietary Fats
The Truth About Fat, Nutrition, and Cholesterol

More Helpguide Articles

• Making Exercise Fun: Finding a Fitness Plan that Works for You
• Healthy Fast Food: Tips for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices
• Dietary Supplements: The Smart and Safe Use of Vitamins and Supplements
• Healthy Eating: Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition

References and resources for Healthy Weight Loss

Weight loss Basics

Counting calories: Getting back to weight-loss basics – how calories determine your weight and ways you can best cut calories from your diet. (Mayo Clinic)

USDA Calorie Chart (PDF – 52 pages) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 17 (USDA)

What type of weight loss diet works best

Low-fat? Low-carbs? Answering best diet question Researchers put four popular diets -- high carb, high fat, low-fat and high protein -- to the test to see which of the regimens resulted in more weight-loss success (CNN)

Just Eat Less. Heart-healthy, low-cal diets promote weight loss regardless of fat, protein and carb content according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (Science Daily)

Emotional and social components of healthy weight loss

How to stop emotional eating – Ways to curb emotional eating from sabotaging your healthy weight loss efforts. (Mayo Clinic)

Emotional Eating Test – Do you have issues with food? Take this online test and find out! (Psychology Today)

Mindful eating for healthy weight loss

Mastering the mindful meal – Explains the effects of mindless eating, and offers exercises to help you become a more mindful eater. (Brigham & Women’s Hospital)

Tips for healthy weight loss your way

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight – Illustrated guide to healthy ways to lose weight. (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Just Enough for You: About Portion Sizes – Offers tips for managing portion sizes at home, and when eating out. (Weight Control Information Network)

Tips for Setting and Meeting Your Weight Loss Goals – After you’ve made the commitment to start losing weight, set goals that are realistic, specific, and measurable. (Mayo Clinic)

Weight Loss Myths

Weight loss and nutrition myths – Debunking myths about food, dieting, and exercise. (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease)

Red meat consumption

Meat Intake and Mortality – Technical abstract of the NIH-AARP study. (Archives of Internal Medicine)

NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study: Impact of Diet and Lifestyle Factors on Cancer Incidence – Summary of the report and a downloadable PDF version of the research report. (AARP)

Paying a Price for Loving Red Meat – This article is a good overview of the NIH-AARP study. (New York Times)

Maya W. Paul, Certified Holistic Health Counselor and Suzanne Barston contributed to this article. Last modified: March 2009