Are You a Yo-Yo Dieter?

If you have battled obesity and weight loss throughout your life, you know all about “yo-yo” dieting. What is yo-yo dieting? And why do so many people succumb to a cycle of losing weight only to gain it back again.

Why do we Yo-Yo Diet?

Yo-Yo dieting, also known as weight cycling, refers to the cycle by which a person loses weight, but later gains it all back. In some cases, people gain back more than they lose.

The reasons for yo-yo dieting are varied, but yo-yo dieting is usually attributed to a diet that is too extreme or restricting. You might initially be happy with the results from a very extreme diet. The diet, however, is usually too restrictive and often leads to overeating – usually more than you would have eaten before embarking on such a diet. This results in rapid weight gain.

How to Avoid Yo-Yo Dieting

The best way to avoid weight cycling is to maintain balance. Basic guidelines for weight loss advise you to eat less, and exercise more. However, eating too little can set you up for disaster.

It sounds oversimplified, but to lose weight, it’s important to eat a balanced diet full of healthy, filling foods while incorporating daily exercise into your life. It’s best to eat small and frequent meals to constantly fuel your metabolism

It’s a good goal to aim for 1/2  to 1 pound of weight loss per week.

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