Is dieting before the holidays more harmful than helpful?
While many Americans indulge in candy, cocktails and Christmas cookies during the holidays, others partake in crash diets before the holidays in hopes of maintaining or gaining minimal weight.
Many individuals look forward to celebrating traditional events with savory dishes, despite the richness and the excess calories. To help compensate, some people go on an all-liquid diet, skip meals or undergo a harsh cleanse to offset their upcoming indulgences. However, crash dieting before the holidays can be more harmful than helpful. Pleasure foods can be consumed and enjoyed, if managed properly, without spoiling the occasion.
Contrary to its purpose, harsh dieting may not always result in weight loss. Medical studies show that individuals who crash diet are at a higher risk of becoming binge eaters. A team of UCLA researchers found that 2 out of 3 individuals who diet will gain the weight back. This is largely due to the escalation of cravings, as their metabolisms slow down. With all the tasty holiday meals, it is very easy for crash dieters to lose control and binge eat.
By dramatically restricting their caloric intake, individuals often deprive themselves of the nutrition they need. As a result, blood sugar levels can become unstable. Medical studies have discovered that individuals who fluctuate in weight have twice the risk of heart attacks, strokes and even death, compared to those who maintain a stable weight.
Individuals who lose, then regain weight rapidly, have a 78 percent higher chance of developing diabetes. Doctors strongly recommend eating in moderation and eating regularly to provide the body with proper nourishment and healthy blood-sugar levels.
Food choices not only affect the numbers on the scale, but they can also affect emotions and psychological reasoning. Hyper-focusing on “off-limit” foods can eventually lead to anxiety, depression and/or eating disorders. These conditions are more common than people realize. While many individuals gain self-confidence in their body image by losing weight, some may never reach personal satisfaction if they are constantly critiquing their own bodies. To better enjoy holiday meals, it is important to eat wisely and avoid stressing over food choices.
In general, crash dieting tends to have more consequences than rewards. Therefore, the best way to maintain a healthy and ideal weight throughout the year is to incorporate routine exercise and healthy food choices as much as possible. Most importantly, portion control is key. Enjoying rich and savory foods on Thanksgiving and Christmas does not keep someone from living a healthy lifestyle if done in moderation. For this reason, individuals should avoid crash dieting and focus on consuming food portions that are moderate and consistent when celebrating the holidays with friends and family.
