There is Still Only One Way...

By Ron McDonald Jr.

In recent news there is a study comparing the Atkins, Mediterranean diet and a low-fat diet published in the In New England Journal of Medicine. The study was done to determine and evaluate the most effective diets for weight loss.

When will they learn? Why are still promoting this nonsense.

After two years the study found, dieters lost an average of 7.3 pounds on the low-fat plan, 10 pounds on the Mediterranean diet, and 12 pounds on a mostly vegetarian version of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet.

In the study it highlights how hard it is to lose weight and the fact that most diets do not work well. It all boils down to make a permanent lifestyle change.

Lets talk turkey...

There are only two approaches to weight management:

1. Magic (non-behavioral change) - calorie starvation, pills, hypnosis, and pre-packaged foods
2. Proper nutrition and productive exercise (behavioral change) - learn to be better you

Diets based on gimmicks don't work. Actually let me take that back diets do work, but only for a short period of time in all the wrong ways. So basically they don't work. Most dieters end up carrying more body fat after they stop the diet. This phenomenon is called "yo-yo" dieting.

At the simpliest level if you eat a diet higher in fruits, vegetables, whole (unrefined) grains, legumes, soy products, some fatty fish like salmon, low in fat, low in refined carbohydrates you're on the right path to look better, feel better, lose weight and gain health (sound the drums) - for a lifetime.

Lets keep it real simple folks a diet that is low in fat is also low in calories, because fat has 9 calories per gram versus only 4 calories per gram for protein and carbohydrates. So when you eat less fat, you consume fewer calories without really having to eat less food (total daily caloric intake), because the food is less dense in calories, as well as low in refined carbohydrates. Now couple that with a productive exercise program you will achieve a negative energy balance.

Bottom line - the best way to achieve weight loss is to begin a progressive exercise, making better and more healthy food choices. At basic level it as simple as calories burned for energy versus calories eaten for energy.


Be Well.

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