Diets that work for weight loss

So the results are in: It is not the diets that work; it is how you control what you eat and how often you exercise that make the difference. So even if you did not follow any of the diets out there but cut back on calories and burnt some more calories through change in lifestyle and exercise, you will do much better.

In fact, in the study published in the Journal of American Medical Association by Michael L. Dansinger, MD; Joi Augustin Gleason, MS, RD; John L. Griffith, PhD; Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH; Ernst J. Schaefer, MD, people who follow a so-called "diet" actually may not do so well because they get too absorbed in the diet program and forget the basics of weight loss. People who follow a "diet" are also likely to do worse when they do not adhere to the diet.

In another study, doctors found that people who were on a diet actually made a net gain in weight after two years. Ouch!

Does it mean that you should give up on diets?

• Absolutely not, but you need to ask yourself the reason why you are on a diet. If you go on a diet because you have a wish to lose weight (and only a wish) but cheat here and there, then you might as well be wasting money on diets. But if you are truly committed to losing weight but do not have the time and skills needed to fully plan your menu, then a diet can actually do wonders for you, particularly if you stick to it rigidly. And rigidly means, no exceptions for holidays, dates, vacations, weekends, etc. (Recommended article: Online diets are best for busy people)
• Regarding other benefits of weight loss, for example health of the heart, doctors found that cardiac risk factor reductions were associated with weight loss regardless of diet type, underscoring the concept that adherence level rather than diet type was the key determinant of clinical benefits.
• The doctors recommend that new techniques be used to match individuals with the diets best suited to their food preferences, lifestyle, and medical conditions. The reason people give up on diets soon enough is that diets are simply not fun.

Finally, remember the MYNIPPON Weight Loss Principle: Eat so that you are barely full, exercise till you can no more, and keep smiling.

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