Because of our society's obsession with thinness, losing weight is a primary concern for many individuals, particularly women. Sometimes it's an obsession that goes too far. Many women with perfectly normal body weight consider themselves overweight, and this applies to young girls as well. It's very sad to see girls as young as eleven or twelve anxiously watching their weight. Over time, for many of us, it's just too much pressure.
Geneen Roth, an author who has written many books about self-regulated eating, says "for every diet there is an equal and opposite binge". That is, over time dieting and obsessing about your weight can actually create a weight problem. Nobody can deal with the pressure of deprivation forever - sooner or later, something's got to give. When it does, the result may be that you lose control of your eating - or, as the tragic stories of many anorexic girls will attest to, you lose control of your dieting. Geneen Roth isn't alone in this way of thinking, either. Many experts are coming to believe that dieting just doesn't work.
But if not dieting, then what? Self-regulated eating is one alternative that Roth and others recommend. If, like many women in our society, you have spent literally years of your life on a diet, you have probably lost track of what it feels like to eat for the most natural reason of all - because you happen to be hungry. This approach to weight loss aims at making eating natural again. It's very simple: if you're hungry, eat. If you're not hungry, don't eat. And when you're eating, as soon as you feel full, stop.
That's all there is to it. For many of us, accustomed to restrictive diets, this may sound like the most unlikely way in the world to lose weight. As a matter of fact, it isn't. It may not make you lose weight quickly - in fact, some people even gain a little before they start to lose. But over the long term, because this is a natural way of eating, it will get your body back to its natural healthy weight.
Of course, the weight that's natural and healthy for you may not bear any resemblance to the fashion models we see in magazines. In fact, studies have shown that less than 1% of women naturally have bodies that are proportioned like a fashion model's, so maybe it's time for us all to make peace with the bodies that we do have.
And that's exactly what the natural approach to eating can help you achieve. It's not a diet - in fact, it's even been called an anti-diet. You may assume, that if you eat whatever you want whenever you're hungry, that you'll end up eating only unhealthy, high-fat foods. That may be true at first, but those who have gone through this process will attest to the fact that over time, your eating habits naturally become healthier. The first week or so, you may end up eating a lot of cookies or chips. Chances are that, after that, you'll crave vegetables or protein. It will all even out over time.
In fact, scientific studies done with children have proven this very thing. The children in the study were allowed to select the foods they wanted to eat from a wide selection. At first, they all gravitated toward cake, chips and candy, probably because these were the foods that their parents restricted at home. After a day or so, however, they naturally switched to healthier foods. Over the span of a week, even though they were never told what to eat and what not to eat, virtually all the children ended up eating a nutritious, balanced diet.
That's why the self-regulated eating plan does not have any forbidden foods. The thinking goes like this: if a food is forbidden, that will make you want it even more. When you finally get hold of it, you won't be able to stop. But if all foods are allowed, there's no need to obsess about any of them. You can just give your body whatever you feel it needs, and over time, this will lead to easy, natural weight loss.
Weight Loss The Group Approach
The first element is the grading of foods according to points. The key is t...
weight_loss__the_group_approach.php
Contact Us
...
contact_us.php
The Mediterranean Diet Lose Weight Without Sacrificing Taste
It all comes down to great tasting, natural food. Forget what you think you know abou...
the_mediterranean_diet__lose_weight_without_sacrificing_taste.php
The Raw Foods Diet For Health And Weight Loss
Needless to say, the raw foods diet is a vegetarian diet. In fact, it contains no animal produ...
the_raw_foods_diet_for_health_and_weight_loss.php
Just Add A Carrot For Great Weight Loss
So you start looking at weight loss plans - but ...
just_add_a_carrot_for_great_weight_loss.php
Effective Weight Loss For Todays Busy Lifestyle
If you have a lot of weight to lose, actually doing it can be very da...
effective_weight_loss_for_todays_busy_lifestyle.php
Losing Weight With The Body For Life Program
This is a program that combines a specialized diet consisting of five carefully balanced meals a ...
losing_weight_with_the_body_for_life_program.php
Lose Weight By Eating For Your Blood Type Fad Or Fact
Some experts started to link this to blood type. There are...
lose_weight_by_eating_for_your_blood_type__fad_or_fact.php
The Easiest Ways To Lose Weight
At the same time, the desire to be thin and fit has never been stron...
the_easiest_ways_to_lose_weight.php
Easy Weight Loss Small Steps That Make A Big Difference
Still, when you think about it in terms of a concrete plan to lose weight, it can be very da...
easy_weight_loss__small_steps_that_make_a_big_difference.php
A New Diet Pill For Weight Loss And Better Health
The new generation of diet pills is much...
a_new_diet_pill_for_weight_loss_and_better_health.php
Low Fat Eating A Lifelong Diet Plan
That sort of advice would be ridiculed today, and m...
low_fat_eating__a_lifelong_diet_plan.php
Sustained Weight Loss With Linoleic Acid
Of course, the ideal is this: you embark on a weight loss program, but instead of se...
sustained_weight_loss_with_linoleic_acid.php
Historical Approaches To Weight Loss And Healthy Eating
Today, we have made nutrition a science; we think that our experts know the secrets to healthy eating. ...
historical_approaches_to_weight_loss_and_healthy_eating.php
Is Your Body Image Realistic
By now, we are all well aware of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Though...
is_your_body_image_realistic.php
Lose Weight In A Controlled Environment
The trick is to allow yourself to experience success by removing...
lose_weight_in_a_controlled_environment.php
Weight Gain And Weight Loss The Psychological Ramifications
The third variable is psychological, and it may even be the most powerful determinant for who w...
weight_gain_and_weight_loss__the_psychological_ramifications.php
Lose Weight With Chromium Supplements
Chromium is a natural supplement that is very helpful in weight los...
lose_weight_with_chromium_supplements.php
Overhaul Your Eating Habits Substitute Flavor For Fat
An alcoholic can give up drinking by just never taking a drink again - it's ...
overhaul_your_eating_habits__substitute_flavor_for_fat.php
Home Delivery Service For Convenience And Weight Loss
For some of us, in fact, the problem isn't sticking to a diet - the problem is fi...
home_delivery_service_for_convenience_and_weight_loss.php
Losing Weight With The Highprotein Approach
High protein eating is a bit controversial, because some critics claim that it can b...
losing_weight_with_the_highprotein_approach.php
Lose Weight By Eating The Right Carbs
Why, then, are grains at the top of many government eating charts (ie. they are the things we should be ...
lose_weight_by_eating_the_right_carbs.php
Reward Yourself For Weight Loss Successes
Some diet plans incorporate a 'reward meal' once a week or once every ten days. If you are following a re...
reward_yourself_for_weight_loss_successes.php
Weight Loss With Traditional Foods
On the other hand, it's also true that few if any traditional societies had the problem with ...
weight_loss_with_traditional_foods.php
Eating Binges A Fact Of Human Life
However, many experts have commented that dieting or...
eating_binges__a_fact_of_human_life.php
Lose Weight With Hypnosis
If you start off okay and then hit a plateau in your weight loss, ...
lose_weight_with_hypnosis.php
Lose Weight With Yoga
Yoga is a system of exercise that is thousands of years old. Conceived in India, it is now practic...
lose_weight_with_yoga.php
Water The Simplest Weight Loss Tool Of All
But did you know that drinking enough water can also help you lose weight? It's not a miracle cure, of c...
water__the_simplest_weight_loss_tool_of_all.php
The No White Foods Diet
So here, then, is a quick, easy solution to your weight loss needs, if you...
the_no_white_foods_diet.php
Lose Weight With The South Beach Diet
What are 'good' carbohydrates? Basically, good carbohydrates are those that are close to their nat...
lose_weight_with_the_south_beach_diet.php
Surprising Weight Loss Tips
Actually, this does seem to be the case. Other studies show that 'lite' pr...
surprising_weight_loss_tips.php
Meal Replacements For Weight Loss How Good An Idea Are They
But if that's the case, it's easy to see why this addiction might be harder to treat than some others. The way to d...
meal_replacements_for_weight_loss__how_good_an_idea_are_they.php
Using Visualization For Weight Loss
This is a method that is gaining increased acceptance nowadays, ev...
using_visualization_for_weight_loss.php
The Planned Binge As A Weight Control Measure
It may surprise you to know, then, that many people who are at a normal, healthy weight are not immune ...
the_planned_binge_as_a_weight_control_measure.php
Affirmations For Weight Loss
What are affirmations? They are simple statements that you repeat to yourself, out loud, looki...
affirmations_for_weight_loss.php
Personalize Your Weight Loss Plan
This is an idea that's rapidly catching on. Companies such as L.A. Weight Loss and ...
personalize_your_weight_loss_plan.php
Mind Over Matter Weight Loss
Consider a parallel - another problem that many people struggle with - quitt...
mind_over_matter_weight_loss.php
Lose Weight Fast With A Homeopathic Patch
Homeopathy works on the principle of 'like cures like'. In other words, proponents of homeopathy bel...
lose_weight_fast_with_a_homeopathic_patch.php
Lose Weight With The Semolina Diet
In the meantime, eating plans that promise to help you lose wei...
lose_weight_with_the_semolina_diet.php
Lose Weight With Long Distance Walking One Step At A Time
So by all means, if you need to start small, do so. Just start - walk a couple of blocks today, a couple more tomorro...
lose_weight_with_long_distance_walking__one_step_at_a_time.php
Weight Loss The Sleep Prescription
One key component seems to be sleep. We all know how important sleep is ...
weight_loss__the_sleep_prescription.php
Losing Pregnancy Weight
Though experts recommend that a woman gain no more than about 27 pounds during p...
losing_pregnancy_weight.php
Lose Weight With A Biannual Cleanse
For many of us, it's unrealistic to avoid the buildup of toxins altogether. They ...
lose_weight_with_a_biannual_cleanse.php
Lose Weight With A Natural Weight Loss Remedy
Though there are those that swear by it, at this point, there is a bit ...
lose_weight_with_a_natural_weight_loss_remedy.php
Resources
...
resources.php
Discover Your Food Allergies And Accelerate Weight Loss
But what does this have to do with weight loss? Studies show that food allergies are a leading cause of weigh...
discover_your_food_allergies_and_accelerate_weight_loss.php
The Rule Of Three Easy Weight Loss Like You Wont Believe
Here's how it works - both in real life, and in theory. You're try...
the_rule_of_three__easy_weight_loss_like_you_wont_believe.php
The Importance Of Saying No And What It Has To Do With Weight Loss
Geneen Roth is also interested in examining...
the_importance_of_saying_no__and_what_it_has_to_do_with_weight_loss.php
Weight Loss Surgery A Lastditch Option That Saves Lives
A small percentage of people, however, have already 'tried everything' and ...
weight_loss_surgery__a_lastditch_option_that_saves_lives.php
Natural Diet Pills For Weight Loss How Safe Are They
Nowadays, those types of diet pills still exist, but they are not prescribed or used nearly as of...
natural_diet_pills_for_weight_loss__how_safe_are_they.php
Links
...
links.php
Easy Weight Loss For Dog Lovers
For one thing, a dog requires a minimum of on...
easy_weight_loss_for_dog_lovers.php