Why Diets Fail

Since dieting is just about a national obsession, it’s high time we talked about why 95% of them fail.

Scientists from Indiana University and an Institute in Berlin looked at two completely different types of diets and found the more rules the women had to follow, the sooner they failed.

When you are evaluating a diet plan, find the simplest set of rules – this will help you succeed.  Even if the diet is more attractive because it might allow “more cheating”, if it has too many rules the researchers suggested looking elsewhere.

There are many paths to a good diet.  I don’t claim to know them all but what I keep coming back to are some basic rules that seem to make a lot of sense and help the people I share them with.

1 - You take baby steps or you take no steps.  Changing how you eat is a process. It must be slow or it won’t stick.   And to that point, you should consider yourself on a one year journey.  Don’t expect to get any solid benefits for at least 90 days.  If you can set in a habit for 90 days you are well on your way.

2 -I don’t advise any big shifts in diet to begin with (see #1 above).  Instead, start by exercising.  Leave your eating essentially the same.  “But Brian – isn’t diet 80% of your success?”  My opinion is that it’s about 50% of the success and since it’s SOOO hard to change, I think you should start with exercise – you’ll feel the benefits faster.

3 - First dietary target: sugar (and artificial sweeteners).  It will most likely take you months to successfully remove sugar from your diet.  Your goal should be six days a week you get no sugar, one day a week plan (the key is to plan, not accidental) you get to eat whatever you want.  For some people, this could take you an entire year to get right.  It’s taken me longer but it is a huge factor.  Most people are so completely addicted to simple carbohydrates – it’s hard to even IMAGINE quitting.

4 - While you struggling with #3 it might be okay to start trying to modify breakfast.  It’s the first meal of the day and starts off the insulin ride for most people.  It’s also easier to fix, in my experience.  Breakfast should not include cereal.  Cereal of any kind is usually high in sugar, low in nutrition.  Most people spike their blood sugar during breakfast and that starts the “insulin cycle” all day. Breakfast should be eggs and fruit, or eggs and oatmeal.  You can scramble them, throw in some vegetables and a little cheese.; get some protein with not TOO much fat.

So there is your “diet”: exercise, cut sugar and fix breakfast.  It’s a great place to start and get yourself on track.  If you can master those – you’re ready to move on.