I think the problem with dieting is not the dieting, it is what comes after. Most people can go a few months with restricted calories, and would happily do it for the weight loss if they thought it would stay off.
But as research shows the weight does not stay off. If you go through the discomfort of dieting, the reward is a short period of "lightness" before the weight starts to creep back. It might even start to creep back the minute you "complete" your diet. Most people who have done the diet thing knows that it comes back. So there is resistance to the diet. Why bother if it all comes back, plus. And so millions of ex-dieters just get heavier, slowly or quickly, over time because dieting is not the final answer.
But it is the start of the answer. For all who have become obese, you have to diet, you have to cut calories in order to remove the excess fat from your body. So Optifast has mastered the diet part.
But there is a negative commentary, even with Optifast, about maintenance. Only a small percentage keeps the weight off, and most will gain back 1/3 in two years, whereas, the majority gain it all back and then some. No diet program will stand in front of you and say we can help 90% of you keep the weight off. Because they don't know how.
In Optifasts groups they have the most dedicated dieters, those who really sincerely want to lose the weight. The want to lose the weight and they want to keep it off. They have an audience that they could work with to start working on a program of keeping the weight off. Their major maintenance program is weekly meetings. There needs to be more.
I must ponder this, I need to find a solution to the "after" diet, and I need to find it within the next year. Or I will be here in another five years pondering the diet.
But as research shows the weight does not stay off. If you go through the discomfort of dieting, the reward is a short period of "lightness" before the weight starts to creep back. It might even start to creep back the minute you "complete" your diet. Most people who have done the diet thing knows that it comes back. So there is resistance to the diet. Why bother if it all comes back, plus. And so millions of ex-dieters just get heavier, slowly or quickly, over time because dieting is not the final answer.
But it is the start of the answer. For all who have become obese, you have to diet, you have to cut calories in order to remove the excess fat from your body. So Optifast has mastered the diet part.
But there is a negative commentary, even with Optifast, about maintenance. Only a small percentage keeps the weight off, and most will gain back 1/3 in two years, whereas, the majority gain it all back and then some. No diet program will stand in front of you and say we can help 90% of you keep the weight off. Because they don't know how.
In Optifasts groups they have the most dedicated dieters, those who really sincerely want to lose the weight. The want to lose the weight and they want to keep it off. They have an audience that they could work with to start working on a program of keeping the weight off. Their major maintenance program is weekly meetings. There needs to be more.
I must ponder this, I need to find a solution to the "after" diet, and I need to find it within the next year. Or I will be here in another five years pondering the diet.
Very insightful - any thoughts on what the "more" should be? You're certainly in a position to offer some great advice & I bet you can come up with some wonderful ideas. Maybe the start of a new business venture while doing good?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ted. Figure it out and start a business. I'll be the enforcer.
ReplyDeleteI will be your partner in that business!!! I would like to know the answer to maintenance too.
ReplyDelete