Do Diets Really Work?

Weight Loss

Losing weight at it’s basics is nothing more than calories in versus calories out. While calories in is simply based on your caloric intake, your caloric outtake is affected by numerous factors; exercise intensity, your metabolic rate, hydration and other factors. Two of the most effective programs for weight loss programs and improving your overall health are the Dash Diet and Mediterranean diet. The key to successful results (for any program), is your approach to your diet.

The word diet is not a bad word, in fact like most things in life it is your approach and attitude that has the greatest impact on your success. When you decide to do a diet you are basically agreeing to a structure program and ongoing discipline it takes to do on a daily basis.

As you go though your program take note of the all the little things you do at the beginning of your program. Prepping your food up ahead of time, scheduling your exercise time in your daily planner, weighing your food, tracking your portions, etc. Overtime these little things that you did at the beginning of your diet (and when you probably had your most success) start falling off your radar.

One of the most important factors of any program is keeping some type of diary of your eating. No matter program you choose to follow, accuracy (measuring, weighing) can greatly improve your chances of success. You may not think there is a big caloric difference of having 5 ounces instead of 4 ounces of chicken at dinner or an extra 1/4 cup of pasta. But mis-calculating a little bit here and there over time does add up, and at the very least will minimize your success.

There are many ways to track your food intake. The Dash Diet uses measuring your portion amounts while other programs want you to track caloric intake or some combo of both. The key here is being accurate and consistent with any program you choose to follow. The approach you take has a direct effect on the success of your program.