So many people are in the process of setting New Year’s resolutions and one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. We see people making drastic changes in what they are eating and starting or increasing workout sessions. The problem with diets is simple, they don’t work (nearly 80% of people regain the weight they lost within 3 years)! If they worked people would not need to start new diets every year. Besides not being effective in sustaining weight loss; diets can have serious physical and emotional consequences. People who engage in strict dieting or who follow diets that limit the types of food you eat, can lead to malnutrition and other health complications. Not only can these types of diets cause physical problems, they can also lead to emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and possibly trigger an eating disorder for some individuals. Eating is a social activity in our culture and when you are extremely limited in what you can eat, you typically can’t eat at restaurants with friends. This can cause more isolation and depression. If you are looking to lose weight this year figure out a healthy plan. Learn techniques to eat mindfully, meet with a nutritionist or dietician to develop a healthy eating plan, and don’t drastically change your eating habits or exercising regiment. Begin slowly. Try increasing healthy foods and allow yourself to eat any type of food that you choose. Use all 5 of your senses when eating in order to be able to really enjoy what you are eating. Just remember to eat it mindfully and pay attention to when the food is no longer satisfying. Happy New Year!
Trusted Therapy, Inc
Tonya McFarland, PsyD, CEDS
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
1030 Johnson Rd, #323
Golden, CO 80401 303-709-5897
www.trustedtherapy.com
tonya@trustedtherapy.com