Weight loss: why meal plans don't work
Meal plans do not resemble a realistic weight loss method.
Although dedicating every ounce of energy to a diet that dictates what we can and can't consume may seem like a sensible solution to eliminating excess weight, a strategic eating regime does not resemble the realistic lifestyle change that is essential for long-term weight loss.
In fact, the exaggerated eating plan that is often prescribed by professionals who promise to 'prevent us from piling on the pounds' not only pushes us to become psychologically preoccupied with a negative side of nutrition - we become so fixated on 'forbidden' food that we feel like a 'failure' when we succumb to a snack or meal that isn't part of our plan - but overwhelmed by the obsessive rules that reiterate what and when we can and can't eat - we consciously convince ourselves that we'll struggle to sustain the psychological strength to stick to a diet that dictates our daily snacks and meals.
Instead of intensifying the insecurities that stem from our lack of self control by bombarding our body and brain with the rules of a religious eating routine, we need to ditch the diet that dictates and dig deep to determine the underlying psychological problem/s behind our behaviour - the behaviour that triggers our temptation to turn to specific food sources and makes 'dieting' feel like a daily battle that we cannot beat - whilst acknowledging that although we may maintain a motivated mindset when starting a set meal plan, the human brain (and body!) will struggle to sustain such strategic rules the second that it feels pressured, or is forced to participate in a weight loss plan that doesn't consider the core culprit/s responsible for an accumulation of additional weight or our daily nutritional needs - we may crave carbohydrates after a tough training session only to find that our next prescribed meal resembles a speedy 'low fat' snack as opposed to the nutritious meal that our body needs to refuel, and as a result, resort to our unhealthy habits as we convince ourselves that we 'can't' stick to our scheduled snacks and meals.
Summary: meal plans may seem like a sensible solution to fighting the flab, but if we want long-term weight loss, we not only need to pin point the psychological problem/s behind why we eat, but create a realistic lifestyle change that resembles sensible food swaps, and a healthy, balanced diet that is designed to compliment our body, mind and psychological relationship with food.
For more weight loss tips, recipes and nutrition advice, join my private weight loss group over at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1652839708333749/
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