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Herongale (![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} herongale) wrote in ![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/community.gif){kind=small} otf_wank, |
Re: Sorry for getting all unfunnybusiness...
Of course people can lose weight safely and permanently. It's just not usually by dieting.
For one thing, people who set realistic goals ("I want to lose 15-20 lbs") as opposed to unrealistic ones ("I want to lose 100+ lbs") are far more likely to achieve success. It also really helps if they set a realistic time scale ("over the next year or so" vs "in the next two weeks").
Most of the significant and permanet weight loss, however, probably isn't done with the goal of losing weight at all. My brother is a good example of this- in high school he was considered chunky, even fat. When he tried to diet he just gained more weight, exactly as you've said. But once he set for himself a goal that gave him pleasue and that he really wanted to work for ("I want to be strong and lift heavy weights") the pounds did come off, and it's been over ten years since then. He'll never be what anyone would call thin, but he is extremely fit, and most importantly, is comfortable and happy in his body.
I mostly agree with your overall premise, but to say that it is wrong to say that people can lose weight both safely and permanently is tantamount to saying it's impossible. It's not impossible at all. But it rarely (if ever) is achieved by what most people think of when they hear the word "dieting"= strict calorie restriction and/or limited food choices.
Of course people can lose weight safely and permanently. It's just not usually by dieting.
For one thing, people who set realistic goals ("I want to lose 15-20 lbs") as opposed to unrealistic ones ("I want to lose 100+ lbs") are far more likely to achieve success. It also really helps if they set a realistic time scale ("over the next year or so" vs "in the next two weeks").
Most of the significant and permanet weight loss, however, probably isn't done with the goal of losing weight at all. My brother is a good example of this- in high school he was considered chunky, even fat. When he tried to diet he just gained more weight, exactly as you've said. But once he set for himself a goal that gave him pleasue and that he really wanted to work for ("I want to be strong and lift heavy weights") the pounds did come off, and it's been over ten years since then. He'll never be what anyone would call thin, but he is extremely fit, and most importantly, is comfortable and happy in his body.
I mostly agree with your overall premise, but to say that it is wrong to say that people can lose weight both safely and permanently is tantamount to saying it's impossible. It's not impossible at all. But it rarely (if ever) is achieved by what most people think of when they hear the word "dieting"= strict calorie restriction and/or limited food choices.
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