When you think about the conveniences in our lives, even compared to how things were when many of those alive today were children, it’s mind-boggling. 80 years ago, many common household conveniences, like electric vacuum cleaners, washing machines and even cars, were scarce or non-existent in many homes.
Never before in history have so many conveniences, in the form of machines designed to make your life easier, presented themselves in such a short time. Before the invention of the automobile 125 years ago, horse-drawn vehicles were the main mode of land transportation for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, the fact that we live in an ‘age of convenience’ spills over into other parts of our lives. We want instant solutions to other, more complex problems. Like losing weight.
‘Quick’ Weight-Loss Solutions
Our demand for convenient ways to tackle serious problems is one of the driving forces behind the massive industry that has grown around weight loss. It’s estimated that over $7 billion a year is spent by Canadians on diet programs, books and videos.
That’s a tempting pay-off for any company that can find a way to get a piece of the action. And the easiest way to do that is to appeal to your need for convenience. So efforts to get a chunk of the $7 billion are generally focused on offering fast solutions to achieving your ultimate weight.
Interestingly, while we continue to spend more money on losing weight, obesity rates continue to rise at unprecedented rates in North America.
We Are Trying to Lose Weight the Wrong Way
The fact that buckets of cash are being poured at a problem that isn’t going away is a clue to the problem. You’re fighting a losing battle because you’re told to go at it the wrong way.
If you want some proof of the fact that popular approaches to weight loss don’t work, or at least not for most people, the recent revelation that over 70% of the contestants on ‘The Biggest Loser’ season 6 have gained back their pre-show weight, and more, offers more than enough.
In a situation where weight was lost under the glare of TV cameras, doctors and professional trainers, it still not be shed permanently.
The Problems With How We Try to Lose Weight
When you look at how we go about losing weight, you quickly see why we’re not succeeding.
Using ‘The Biggest Loser’ as an example, the ‘winner’ of each season is the person who sheds the most pounds. That shows we place an emphasis on massive, short-term weight loss.
After all, our addiction to convenience drives us to seek the fastest, easiest solution first, even if it’s not the right one.
But recent studies show that losing huge amounts of weight in a relatively short time not only doesn’t work for the vast majority of people, it can be damaging to your health. And it’s the first of the things that we are doing wrong in our efforts to healthily lose weight and keep it off.
1. Trying to Lose All Your Extra Weight at Once
It’s the ‘straight-line’ mentality. If you are 100 pounds overweight, then you need to lose 100 pounds. Except it doesn’t work. Your body likes thing the way they are, even in an overweight state. If you try to lose too much weight too quickly, not only do you have the weight fighting against you, you have your body’s formidable defence mechanisms to contend with also.
2. You’re Trying to Lose Fat
Yes, your extra weight lies in the fat cells of your body. But that doesn’t make fat the enemy. Relatively few people become overweight or obese only from eating too much fat. Instead, they are more likely to put on the pounds by eating too many simple carbs, especially sugar, which shows up in unbelievable quantities throughout our convenient diets of processed foods and fast food.
3. You’re Trying to Lose Weight
Yes, that’s the point, but it shouldn’t be your exclusive focus. When you place too much emphasis on how many pounds you’re trying to lose, you create a situation where your measurements and weigh scale become the ultimate determinant of your success. And when they don’t go in the direction you want, you can be discouraged and abandon your program. If, instead, you focus on being healthier by eating a balanced diet and getting the right nutrition, your yardsticks for success shift and it is far easier for you to stay on track and reach your goals.
The nutritional consultants at your local Herbal One Weight Loss Centre know how to help you lose weight the right way: healthily. Call or visit today.