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Miracle diets vs long-term change in habits What to choose

Homepage Articles Miracle diets vs long-term change in habits What to choose

Miracle diets vs long-term change in habits What to choose

Modern lifestyles of haste and stress, as well as the growing problem of overweight and obesity in society, are making more and more people look for effective ways to improve their health and lose weight. On the one hand, there are plenty of diets and solutions that promise quick results, and on the other hand, an approach that requires a slow but consistent change in dietary habits. Although it may seem less attractive, it is worth considering which of these two methods actually leads to long-term improvements in health, well-being, and weight loss.

Table of Contents

1. Diets are miraculously quick, but at what cost?

Short-term diets, also known as "miracle diets", are popular solutions that promise quick results in a short time. They typically involve drastically reducing calories, eliminating certain food groups, or using single-component diets. They are gaining popularity with the promise of quick weight loss, which attracts people seeking quick results, especially before important events such as weddings or round birthdays during the holiday season.

2. The disadvantages of short-term diets

Short-term diets, although they can have quick effects, can have a number of negative consequences that make long-term use of them problematic. First of all, drastically reducing calories or eliminating whole groups of products can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients, which negatively affects health. Furthermore, rapid weight loss is often associated with the jo-jo effect.

3. The psychological traps of rapid weight loss

From a psychological point of view diets can trigger strong emotions and significantly affect self-esteem, body perception and the relationship with food. Many people experience excitement and motivation at the beginning of their use, and quick effects in the form of weight loss give a sense of control and satisfaction. This makes such a diet seem to be an effective method of achieving their goals. However, these positive effects quickly give way to frustration when the effects take place and the body has to an earlier level.

4. Long-term change in eating habits

Long-term dietary change is a process that focuses on a gradual but sustained transformation of the way you eat to achieve health and well-being in the long run. Unlike short-term diets, which often offer quick results but don't always deliver lasting results, dietary changes are a more comprehensive approach that involves building lasting habits and raising awareness about what's on the plate.

5. How to effectively build healthy eating habits

Building long-term habits, especially in the context of lifestyle and dietary change, requires systematicity, patience, and an appropriate approach.

6. Gradual introduction of changes

The first step in a long-term change in eating habits is to understand that healthy eating is a process, not a one-time diet. This change involves gradually making new, healthier choices that are permanently integrated into our daily lives and that are easy to maintain in the long run. It's not just a matter of choosing the right products, but also a conscious approach to eating, understanding the needs of the body, and avoiding extremes.

7. Nutrition education

An important part of long-term change is also nutritional education. Understanding which nutrients are necessary for the body, which products are worth choosing and which are better to limit. This is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Nutritional awareness allows you to make better choices in different situations in a store, in a restaurant or while cooking at home.

8. Change of mindset

Another important aspect of long-term change in eating habits is the psychology of eating. Instead of treating eating as something that you have to have complete control over, the goal is to develop a healthy, sustainable approach. This means that there's no need to give up your favorite foods, but it's worth looking for better alternatives and eating them in moderation.

9. You have to be patient

Changing dietary habits is a process that takes time and patience. Although it doesn't have immediate effects, it leads to lasting results and improvements in health. Gradual changes in daily life make them more natural, and a more balanced diet. Long-term dietary change is an investment in health and a better quality of life that benefits over many years. It's worth adding that long-term changes in diet are often combined with improvement in other aspects of life, such as physical activity and stress reduction.

10. Long-term change in habits or diet is what studies say

Studies clearly indicate that, despite their promising fast effects, miracle diets often lead to the jo-jo effect, which is a rapid return to original body weight after they are completed. This is due to the fact that they do not teach sustained, healthy eating habits and the effects are usually short-lived. Additionally, this type of approach does not take into account the individual needs of the body, which makes it difficult to maintain results in the long run. In contrast to this long-term lifestyle change, which relies on the gradual introduction of healthy choices, the results are usually more stable.
Source

Ashna H. et al., Unintended consequences of dieting: How restrictive eating habits can harm your health, „International Journal of Surgery Open” 2023, 60, 100703.
Freire R., Scientific evidence of diets for weight loss: Different macronutrient composition, intermittent fasting, and popular diets, „Nutrition” 2020, 69, 110549.