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What does it take to succeed at weight loss?
The newly popular book, 'The 17 Day Diet,' promises quick weight loss and lasting results. Quick weight loss isn't so tough when you follow a strict diet. It's the lasting results that are the problem.
Fri, Jun 17 2011 at 10:35 AM
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“The 17 Day Diet” is a new book and diet program that’s rapidly gaining popularity. It’s gone viral with bloggers and YouTube users chronicling their results in record numbers. It’s the highest-ranking diet book on Amazon right now, and Amazon’s 16th best-selling book overall. “Good Morning America” did a feature on this diet, and it looks as if they think there’s something to it.
Have you looked into “The 17 Day Diet” or given it a try? I haven’t tried this diet by Dr. Michael Moreno, but I have tried others. Recently, I was having great success on Weight Watchers (remember earlier in the year when I was giving you weekly updates?), but that success stopped when I stopped doing the program. I still believe in Weight Watchers; it’s myself I’ve lost a little faith in.
From what I’ve read and seen of “The 17 Day Diet,” I can understand why people are finding success. They’re eating less and exercising more. They’re following a strict 17-day regimen (followed by three additional strict 17-day regimens). It looks as if the foods the diet recommends are whole, healthy foods. It’s tempting to give it a try.
But then, I see the part where those following the program can’t eat carbs or fruit after 2 p.m. Right away, I see its downfall for me. No pasta dinners. No summer cantaloupe or watermelon as an after-dinner snack. How can anyone stick to that for a lifetime to get the lasting results that this diet says it will achieve?
I laughed when one dieter in the video, Rachel Wilcox, said she’s living proof that the diet works. She started the diet four months ago and found success. That’s great for her, but how can she, or anyone, believe that after only four months, she’s found lasting success? Sure the way of eating and exercising might work for her, but how does she know she’s going to stick to it?
I’m not picking on Rachel Wilcox for believing in this diet. She could be saying the same of Weight Watchers. And, for anyone to actually achieve lasting success, belief has to be part of it.
Here’s the thing I’m truly wondering: how does anyone make a weight loss program or an exercise regimen something they do long term? And by long term, I mean years.
I really want to know. At the end of the “Good Morning America” segment, GMA’s Cameron Mathison said that Moreno emphasizes “the power of the mind — really visualizing who you want to be … staying mindful throughout the day.” That’s the part I — and probably most dieters who haven’t achieved lasting results — need help with.
We know to eat less and healthier food. We know to exercise more. What we don’t know is how to make ourselves to do it for more than a few weeks or months.That’s what I’m mulling over right now in the wake of my latest weight loss “bump in the road.” (Don’t look at it like a failure. Don’t look at it like a failure. Don’t look it at like a failure...) I intend to go back on Weight Watchers, but there’s only so much disappointment I can take in myself. So I’m trying to work through the “mindfulness” part of it.
Any advice? Words of encouragement? Success stories? Bring ‘em on.
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My parents tried this diet and lost a lot of weight and kept it off for a couple of months. The food wasnt bad but they struggle with keeping it off. I found the diet to be unhealthy because it seemed like they werent eating enough and excerising too much. Overall I agree its hard to change your lifestyle to be a healthy one and "crash" dieting isnt the solution.
go primal!
You need to change the conversation in your head. Instead of focusing on weight loss, focus on eating healthy and being healthy. You can eat pasta for dinner, or fruit after 2 p.m. Just not every night...once a week is usually sufficient for you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight if the rest of the time, you are eating right and exercising.