Dieting is one of the strongest predictors for gaining weight.
Yup, it’s true.
Oh, you thought it would be the opposite?
Well, let’s do a quick little reflection.
Since you started dieting (however long ago – 5, 10, 20+ years) … are you heavier now?
Odds are … yes.
That’s not a judgement and it’s certainly not a criticism.
It’s a statistic.
Dieting is a strong predictor for gaining weight.
Before I explain why, I want to remind you of something …
Our December promo ends … well … when December ends.
If you want 10% off our coaching program + 1-2 months of free coaching + first access to our brand new app releasing in January …
And you want a guaranteed way to achieve your body composition goals without having to obsess over tracking every morsel of food or living your life in the gym …
Then schedule your call before the month is over.
Dieting + time = weight gain
Or, you can keep dieting and increase your odds of gaining weight over time.
So what gives with that statistic?
It actually makes perfect sense when you understand some of the cognitive biases we are blessed with, as humans.
Most notably, ironic rebounding.
Here’s an example of ironic rebounding …
I want you to take a minute and think about anything you want in the world …
Any thought is fair game except for one …
You can think about anything EXCEPT for white bears.
Ready, go …
….
….
Not so easy, huh?
White bears are literally all you can think about.
Ironic rebounding is essentially when we try to suppress thoughts or feelings or urges …
And then bounce back stronger than ever.
This has been tested and retested in various different settings and the results are always the same …
Thought suppression leads to only thinking about the thing you are trying to suppress.
Feeling suppression leads to a deeper feeling of what you were trying to suppress.
Urge suppression leads to stronger urges.
Dieters are the most prone to suppressing their thoughts about food.
Dieters are the most prone to suppressing their urges and cravings around food.
As a result, dieters are the most likely to give in to their urges and to binge more frequently.
The number 1 feeling that dieters report after giving in to temptation?
Guilt.
What do they do?
Try to suppress it.
What does that lead to?
Even more guilt.
What do they turn to when the feelings of guilt are stronger than ever?
Food.
And what does that lead to?
Weight gain.
Dieting is a strong predictor for weight gain and it’s actually quite logical even if it doesn’t appear so on the surface.
You don’t have to look much further than my DMs to see this phenomenon in action.
“I know I’m not supposed to eat carbs.”
“I know I shouldn’t be eating cookies.”
“I try not to eat fast food.”
So they’re trying to suppress thoughts about carbs, cookies, and fast food (just to name a few recent examples).
And what happens?
All they can think about are carbs, cookies, and fast food.
When the urge hits, they try to suppress the urge, which makes the urge even stronger.
Before they know it, they’re knee deep in carbs, cookies, and fast food and questioning every ounce of their abilities.
Then the guilt and shame kicks in …
I’m not consistent. I’m not disciplined. I have to try harder. I will try to do better next time.
The cycle will repeat over and over and over again until they break.
We work with a lot of clients who come to us with a fear of carbs. With a fear of eating too much. With a fear of eating at certain times.
The only way out is through.
We have to embrace and accept those feelings.
Suppression doesn’t work. Acceptance does.
Observe and acknowledge those thoughts, feelings, and urges.
Identify them and notice how they feel in your body and mind.
Then, continue breathing and ride those feelings like a wave.
Eventually, the wave dissipates.
And you realize that you can accept and observe those thoughts and feelings without acting on them.
And you also recognize that the entire structure of dieting is completely flawed.
It sets you up to fail.
It tells you all the things you can’t do.
Our 1:1 coaching program helps you lose weight or reach other goals in a sustainable way.
With our personalized nutrition coaching program, we flip the script.
We tell you all the things you CAN do.
Much more empowering.
Nothing is off limits.
You have the ability to observe and accept your thoughts and feelings without acting on them.
Over time, they completely lose their power.
And you’re focused on all the things you CAN do.
This strategy has been proven to be effective for successful weight loss, overcoming anxiety, addiction, and depression.
You don’t have to take this approach.
You can keep doing what you’ve been doing.
You can keep telling yourself that this time will be different.
You can keep dieting and hoping for the best.
But if you want true change, it’s right here waiting for you.
Book your call today.
