Do Diets Work Long Term and What Should I Do Instead To Lose Weight?

One of the age-old questions is Do Diets Work Long Term, it is quite subjective so let’s explore why.

Obesity prevalence has tripled in the past 20 years in the US and is still on the rise. In other parts of the world, like New Zealand and Australia over 50% of the population are either overweight or obese. 

So why is the waistline continuing to expand at an unprecedented rate?  

Well, aside from the obvious approaches in that we tend to overeat and underexercise, however diets are certainly not helping.

Do Diets Work?

One would have to conclude that diets simply do not work.  The main reason diets do not work is because that they are a short-term solution for a long-term problem.  The connotation is that if you are going to go on a diet, then sometime in the future you are going to come off that diet—usually returning to the unhealthy eating habits that created weight problems in the first place. 

So even if one can lose weight on a diet, statistics show that many will gain the weight back and more in a very short period.

The answer is not in the most recent fad diet or weight-loss craze.  The answer is realising that you must develop healthy lifestyles for a lifetime.  You need to implement a long-term solution for a long-term problem.  Understanding why you gained all your excess weight in the beginning is important, but you must realise that the answer is not in a diet. 

The answer is in a new, healthy lifestyle. 

Probably not the first time you’ve heard that either but the health benefits are optimal health, increased energy and focus, and maintaining a healthy weight. 

We all want that right?

But the most important aspect is the fact that this will be permanent because you will choose to continue these healthy lifestyles for a lifetime.  They will simply just become a new way of life.

How Much Exercise Should I Do to Lose Fat?

One thing the body simply cannot handle is INACTIVITY. We have all heard the phrase “Use it or lose it”. Nothing is truer than the fact that if you do not exercise and use your body, you will lose the capability to do many things in life.

Many of us have not had any significant exercise for months if not years – and this goes against evolution. We were designed to move, a lot!

One of the key aspects of the USANA RESET Program is a modest, consistent exercise program. It really does not matter what you choose to do; however, it is critical that you do something to begin moving again—not only challenging your heart and lungs, but all your muscles.

Movement is vital to any healthy lifestyle program. Without it, you will fail to obtain optimal health. 

Walking, riding a bike, tennis, swimming, racquetball, aerobics class, dancing, basketball, hiking, mountain climbing, walking while playing golf – or even PickleBall, the list of possibilities goes on and on.

You can not say there is something in there that you don’t like or wouldn’t like to try. You need to spend a great deal of time and consideration deciding which exercise program you would like to incorporate into your lifestyle.

As much as possible, it needs to be an activity that you enjoy and would look forward to doing. You will need to be building up your capacity to do your exercise program for the recommended 30 to 45 minutes, at least five times per week.

This can be a combination of activities—and as you will learn in the days ahead—it is important to incorporate some weight-resistance training and stretching into your exercise program. A health and fitness centre with certified personal trainers can be very valuable in helping you add exercise to your life.

What’s A General Summary?

So, do diets work long term? As I mentioned earlier, this is quite subjective because the traditional ‘diets’ that commerically have been making the rounds have not had the best success for the average person.

But not all diets are created equal. The Mediterranean ‘Diet’ has proven to be beneficial.

A lifestyle change might be called a ‘diet’ until it becomes the ‘new norm’. So call it whatever you like.

We’re aware, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard facts on the importance of good food and nutrition – just stick with the best alternative for at least a month – generally, that habit would’ve kicked in.

Quick Conclusion

I’ve heard at a medical conference previously ‘If you haven’t got time for exercise and good eating today, you’ll be forced to make time for ill-health and disease later on in life’. Quite a factual point of view.

Make it a priority to get moving and choose a meatless day, a hard-out exercise day where you push what is generally comfortable and a day perhaps where you choose to do intermittent fasting for 16 hours. Regenerate those cells and keep your body guessing.

Finally, ditch the diets, they tend not to be effective but switch it out for a lifestyle change. Swap out a meal with a high-quality protein like the new USANA Whey Protein Isolate then blend it up with either a milk alternative, like Almond Milk or water and add in some frozen or fresh fruit. If you want to increase the fiber, blend it up with a teaspoon of USANA Fibergy Active.

As soon as you try one of these protein smoothies, you’ll look forward to that meal replacement or breakfast smoothie each day.