Maybe this sounds familiar: you’ve tried the diets, shakes, free meal plans, and maybe even some paid ones from influencers.
Nothing is working and you’re frustrated. At the end of the day, you just want to get your energy back or maybe lose that 10 lbs that has been hanging on as long as you can remember.
I get it, I’ve been in your shoes before.
Believe it or not, my friend there is an answer to your problems. I can’t tell you the specific answer (you’ll understand why later) but I can tell you there are a number of reasons that it’s not working.
In fact, I pulled together 10 reasons that diet isn’t working.
Let’s start there on today’s podcast.
10 Reasons Your Diet Isn’t Working
Number 1: You’re dehydrated
Often one of the biggest changes my 1:1 clients and I make right away is upping their water intake. When you are dehydrated, your body can’t flush out the toxins it needs to. Give yourself an extra boost of water for a few days and see if you notice a difference, you’ll be amazed!
Number 2: You are focusing on quantity over quality.
Sure, tracking macros and calories is a great thing to do. At the end of the day, weight loss technically comes down to calories in and calories out… but when you’re eating 1600 junk calories vs. 1600 nutritional calories, that can play a big role in how your body responds. How much nutritional value is in the food on your plate?
Number 3: Are you really sticking to your diet as much as you say you are?
Gut punch, I know.
If you are saying “just a little bite here, or I’ll finish my kid’s pb&j here,” time over time this adds up. There is NOTHING wrong with this approach in being flexible with what you eat, but it will not necessarily bring on results as fast as you would like.
Try using a food journal for a week and see how many little snacks you’re fitting in. You might be surprised.
Number 4: Fast food is still junk food.
There is this myth that getting a grilled chicken sandwich from a fast food place is a healthy choice. Is it a better choice? Yes, is it a good choice? Eh.
Take Chick-Fil-A for example, at the time of recording this podcast, a grilled chicken sandwich with a bun has over 60 ingredients. At least 30 of those are in the chicken. Oh and that doesn’t include any condiments.
A conversation I have regularly as a nutrition coach is to really pay attention to your fast food intake. There’s nothing wrong with fast food once in a while, but if you find yourself in a chick-fil-a drive-through more than once a week it’s time to re-evaluate.
Number 5: You’re not eating enough protein
Protein and fiber are what are going to keep you full for longer, this will result in less snacking and a more filling meal. No matter what diet people say they’re doing, I will always go back to vegetables and protein.
Track your protein for a few days and see where you end up. Where can you increase it?
Number 6: You are averaging less than 6 hours of quality sleep a night.
Sleep, movement, and nutrition all go hand in hand. A poor night’s sleep can lead to
- Poor decisions
- Your body not responding well to what you eat
- Lack of movement
- Overall not feeling great
Number 7: You’re eating too much sugar
Similar to talking about quality vs. quantity, it’s important to realize just how much sugar you’re eating on a daily basis. We’ve talked in depth about how much sugar you should eat before, but just paying attention to food labels can be very eye-opening. The average American eats 24 tbsp of sugar a day, most often without even knowing it.
Number 8: You’re not moving your body.
As we discussed in number 6, sleep movement, and nutrition all go hand in hand. You can eat all of the healthy food in the world but if you aren’t getting some movement in, you’re not going to see the results you want.
Number 9: You’re only focusing on cardio.
Okay, okay, I am not a certified personal trainer, but calling from experience only focusing on cardio will only get you so far. Branch out, try some weights, yoga, or something else to keep your body moving in different directions. Sometimes that little shift can make a big difference.
Number 10: It’s not custom to you.
Fad diets are just that. Keto, paleo, intermittent fasting, etc. There is a reason they work for some and not others. We are all individual people therefore, our nutrition should be individual to us.
No diet will work if you are not familiar with how your body works with different types of food. In my Best Self Method, our first step is always research so we can figure this out together.
I promise my friend, there is a way to see the results you want. Take a step back and look at these ten options, where are you struggling the most?
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10 Reasons Your Diet Isn't Working
ABOUT ME
Hey There, I’m Kristin, a holistic nutrition coach helping busy moms simplify healthy eating to increase their energy levels and rebuild confidence in themselves.
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