4 Essential Rules for Weight Loss
It’s that time of the year—that time between New Year’s and spring. Whether you’re still focused on that New Year’s Resolution to be healthier or starting to trim down for an upcoming vacation to a warm location, a diet has probably crossed your mind. But did you know that dieting can actually contribute to weight problems?
What’s Wrong with Dieting?
When people diet, they focus on cutting calories and carbohydrates, rather than on their body’s needs. In other words, dieting often starves the body. And the body responds by slowing its metabolism. So now the body isn’t getting what it needs and it also isn’t burning calories very efficiently.
To make matters worse, the body can actually add layers of fat as it tries to fight the sensation of starvation. It’s no wonder that 70 percent of people who diet eventually end up heavier than they were before the diet.
What’s the Alternative?
Self-help expert Paul McKenna offers an alternative to dieting. In his show—I Can Make You Thin on TLC—he focuses on addressing mental hurtles, rather than counting calories. The idea is that weight loss will naturally follow a healthier mental state.
When it comes to eating habits, McKenna offers four rules:
1. When you’re hungry, eat. Hunger is different than a craving. Real hunger builds over time and sends a physical signal. That doesn’t mean that you should wait until you’re starving. But you also shouldn’t eat every time you get a craving or feel bored.
2. Eat what your body wants. Our bodies have an incredible ability to let us know what they need in terms of vitamins, minerals, protein, and so on. Listen to your body, instead of those flash cravings when you see an advertisement.
3. Eat consciously. Chew slowly and enjoy every mouthful. When you do, you’ll notice that you eat slower, eat less, and eat more variety.
4. Stop eating when you’re full. As soon as you think you’re full, stop eating. Then, wait a few minutes. If you actually feel hungry again after five minutes, then eat a little more. But more often than not, you’ll probably discover that you’re not hungry after those few minutes.
McKenna’s overall advice presents a healthier attitude to food that just may lead to a healthier you.