One of the major reasons that diets fail and that the dieting industry doesn’t have it right, is because of the psychology of dieting. I’m not talking about deep seated emotional issues – this isn’t a problem for most people struggling with their weight. I’m talking about something we all share – the way our brains naturally think (see my blog on the basics for why diets fail)
The Psychology of Dieting
The brain resists us when we try to make it do something that is inconsistent with the way it normally thinks. For example, think of the brain as if it’s a child.
What is the most effective way to teach something new to a child? I don’t think you would say that threatening the child, abusively punishing her, or chastising her would work very well. It also doesn’t work to give the child such large and awesome tasks that he will feel overwhelmed. Add inducing guilt and you have the perfect formula for the child to fail.
Instead, if you treat the child with compassion, patience, praise, and help them to focus on one small step at a time, you will have a child who is motivated, relaxed, and enthusiastic. This child will succeed. It’s the same with ourselves when we embark on changes to lose or manage our weight.
The more flexible, positive, praising, and patient we are with ourselves the http://www.fatmatters.com/dietary-nutrition-made-easy/we will be. So don’t waste your brain with methods that will lead to failure, use it in ways that it can succeed. The psychology of dieting is important to success.
