Do you also believe that if you are missing those essential meals everyday, you are en route to losing weight? Well, experts say no. Dieting is no longer a safe alternative for getting rid of those extra undesirable pounds. No doubt, dieting will give you promising and visible results for the short run but it is not an advisable option for sustainable weight reduction; say experts.

In a survey conducted on a group of 500 people aged between 25-35 years it was observed that when the people in the group gained weight, 63% of them admitted that it perturbed their general happiness and they started feeling less confident about their body. JL Chua ,STouyz and AJ Hill in the International Journal of Obesity [2004] discuss about the negative effects of increase in weight which include disruption of a person’s happiness but they also warn that dieting is not the way out. “Dieting is not a safe option,”Chua advises. “We rather ask people to give up processed food and sugar. Also we ask them to start consuming smaller portions of food than completely avoiding it.”

Josephine Connolly, Department of Family Medicine, University Hospital and Medical Center, New York, clears the air about the popular misconception of dieting being a healthy and effective way to lose weight. In her article, Family Practice, she discusses about the drawbacks of dieting and instead asks people to abide to a nutritionally healthy lifestyle. “Our body adjusts to a particular calorie intake over a period of time. While dieting you drastically cut off your calories and it has negative effects on your metabolism. Now your body will instead preserve anything you eat as you are under a fasting mode,” she explains.

Dieting not only disturbs your metabolism but it also adds to psychological strain and medical complications. “Dieting poses a situation for you in which you stand in opposition with your body. This adds to stress and irritation. Further when you cut portions of your meals, you also restrict the important nutrients and thus cause deficiencies. This further adds to a long list of difficulties which include high blood pressure and heart problems,” Connolly adds.

“ Don’t diet , but instead change your lifestyle.”

Researchers advise people to follow healthier and scientifically proven ways to lose weight. One self tip and a trick to the brain is to chew slowly and thoroughly. When eating slow, the brain is tricked to admit less as it needs time to process. It is observed that slow eaters are less likely to be obese than fast eaters. Eating slow gives you a feeling of being full and that too with lesser calories. It is an easy way to drop down weight.

Instead of giving up food, say researchers, people must eat plenty of protein and fiber rich food. In a study conducted, it was found out that overweight people who had lentils or eggs for breakfast had lesser urge to eat for lunch than the people who had eaten carbohydrate based breakfast. Surprisingly, the people who had protein intake for breakfast ended up eating less for the remaining day as well. Dieticians advise eggs, almonds , oats, cottage cheese and broccoli as protein rich foods.

In a research conducted at University of Birmingham it was found that water is another aid when it comes to losing weight. According to the study conducted, drinking water before meals can help you reduce weight as it reduces hunger and you have a lesser urge for calories. The participants in this research who had water before meals were observed to have lost 38% more weight than the others who did not have water before meals in a period of 12 weeks. Dr. Helen Parretti, NHIR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, explained that an intake of water before the three main meals of the day helps you in reducing weight. The study also advised people to eliminate sugary drinks . Staying away from soda, beverages, processed juice and sweetened drinks will reduce your calorie intake and you will experience greater effect of weight loss.

Dariush D. Farhud, professor at School of Medical Sciences, Iran , in his research paper , Impact of Lifestyle on Health , talks of unhealthy lifestyle being an important deterrent towards good health. In this era of technology, people are assisted by their gadgets in any work they do. Dieticians advise that we should eat without electronic distractions. When people eat while watching T.V , surfing internet, using mobile phones or playing games on computer, they forget how much they have eaten lately and become a victim of overeating. People must revert to eating on a dining table and socialize with people, than adding calories and pounds by engaging themselves with their phones while eating. In a review article it was found that people who were distracted by their electronic gadgets while eating, ate 12% more in one sitting than the others. Getting rid of this habit can help you lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Dieticians and nutritionists advise people to drop shortcuts to lose weight by dieting and instead follow these simple few changes and tips and tricks for a long term impact.

“There is nothing more precious and wealthier than good health.”