Fat loss diets are easy to find these days. Everyone seems to have the “secret” formula for losing weight. Well here’s the truth; there is no secret and no one has discovered any new or more effective weight loss strategy than the one that has always worked. That is, for the successful few who lose weight and actually keep it off. There are fat burning fad diets of all incarnations and most will work in the short term. However, we all know at least one person who has been on such a plan only to “bounce back” and get much of it back, and then some, at the end of the diet. These weight loss approaches are not sustainable and completely ignore the problem.
There are no secret fat loss programs either, some experts say that 75% of your results depend on your diet. I think it’s more like 100%. To illustrate my point, when I was strongest and fittest, I was actually at my fattest. Because? Because I’ve enjoyed some of Vancouver’s best dining offerings, and I do so regularly. I’m not so fit today, but I look like I am because my diet is perfect. It always comes down to calories in versus calories out.
If someone says otherwise, they are misinformed or lying. You burn more than you take in, and your body is forced to rely on fat stores for energy. This is called a caloric deficit. While it is true that any diet that puts the dieter in a caloric deficit will work, you have not learned how to eat properly or employ your own control system that works for you. If you can’t grasp this concept, losing weight will always be a frustration for you. This needs to be addressed no matter how well designed your fat burning workouts are.
Whether you’re struggling to lose fat as an obese person or someone trying to shed those last few pounds, the reasons for failure are the same; The nutritional needs of the individual are not being met! That is why it is so important to learn to eat. A 2,000-calorie diet from fast food will produce very different results than a 2,000-calorie diet from a well-balanced diet. Therefore, the quality of food is just as important as the quantity in any effective weight loss program.
Everything from macronutrient ratios to the timing and frequency of meals can play a significant role in the outcome of the diet. Other considerations include an individual’s body type and percentage of body fat. Some people naturally burn more fat and use all available energy, others store everything and are not particularly good at using these reserves. Establishing a diet to lose fat would be very different among these individuals. This is the reason why there must be some individualization between diet programs.
After a period of time, the diet will stop working and your body will have adapted to the scarcity of food by slowing down your metabolism. This is the reason why crash diets fail in the long term if they are continued for too long. Whether you are using a low carb diet or a low fat diet, you need to change something at that point to keep moving forward. A non-linear approach is usually the best option. You’ll also need to incorporate planned “breaks” into your diet to avoid stagnation and stress.