New Year, New You - Really?

Now that the New Year is upon us, and everyone’s overeaten during the past several holidays, the well-intentioned diets are beginning everywhere in order to lose those extra pounds, but according to Matt Dryden, owner of the Body Shop 24/7 Fitness Center in both Shell Lake and Spooner, dieting can be dangerous, often throwing the body into a panic.

In fact, according to the University of  Exeter in England in their study of Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, “repeated dieting may lead to weight gain because the brain interprets the diets as short famines and urges the person to store more fat for future. This may explain why people who try low-calorie diets often overeat when not dieting and don’t keep the weight off. By contrast, people who don’t diet will learn that food supplies are reliable and they do not need to store so much fat.

“Today, people can get into a vicious cycle of weight gain and ever more severe diets, so called yo-yo- dieting, which only convinces the brain it must store ever more fat.” 

According to Matt, “Weight loss through dieting usually looks enticing this time of year. They promise you that quick weight loss works, but most leave you feeling worn out and frustrated over time.

“Most diets that drastically reduce or eliminate everyday foods may work, or seem to work, for a short time. However, when making such drastic changes in eating, it is highly unlikely that the dieter will be able to continue a lifetime of a restricted regimen.”

So, before you start your usual January diet, take this advice into consideration; don’t think you have to rid your life of everything that tastes good in order to lose weight. It’s a journey and as journeys go, enjoy it. Don’t be fooled with promises of dramatic changes in your appearance, it took years to be the weight you are now. 

For some people, this might be the point where you are finally ready to make a true life change acknowledging that you can not ever expect sustainable results with crash diets.

Lifestyle changes in eating (eating only slightly less all the time), combined with cardio and strength training have proven to be more achievable and practical for individuals to succeed in working toward health goals that increase energy, tone and add muscle strength and promote a strong and healthy heart.

Besides there’s something enjoyable about aligning with others at the gym who are pursuing the same goals as you are; losing weight and being healthy. 

This year you could be a new you, and now’s the time to start.