If all diets really do work, why do you and millions of others fail at so many and continue searching for the “magic” diet? “The One” that will actually work?
And, with literally hundreds of diet programs easily available, why are 145 million Americans over age 20 “overweight or obese?” (According to 2009 American Heart Association statistics.)
All Diets Work
Well, maybe not “all” diets work. But certainly all of the more popular, well established, and well-known diet programs do.
For example, a few years ago we all watched Kirstie Alley lose around 75 pounds as the spokesperson for Jenny Craig®. Right in front of our eyes on national TV.
And, good or bad, you can find testimonials proving that Nutrisystem, Atkins, Zone, South Beach, Slim Fast, Cambridge, Green Tea, Hoodia, LEARN, Ornish, The Abs Diet, The 3-Day Diet, The Chocolate Diet (chocolate for gosh sakes….it’s true) work.
So Why Not For You?
Although “all” diets work for some people for some time, they don’t work for everyone. And, in virtually all cases, they only work short-term.
It’s estimated that 95% of those who lose weight dieting gain it back within 3 to 5 years.
Returning to Kirstie Alley, just as you saw her shed weight on TV, a couple of years later you saw her all over the tabloid covers 75+ pounds heavier again.
Why? Although Jenny Craig® clearly “worked” for her, she obviously couldn’t stick with it. Or chose not to. Even for all that money.
Same as you, right? Couldn’t stick with it. Except no one’s paying you millions to lose weight.
All diets work…if you follow them closely enough and stick with them long enough.
The problem is following them and sticking with them.
It’s About Your Temperament
One of the 2 key reasons it’s so hard to follow and stick with diets is that we diet in ways that are contrary to our Temperaments.
Your Temperament is your innate, inborn nature. You’re literally born with it and it’s unchangeable. I like to think of it as part of your DNA. It’s how you’re hard wired.
Your Temperament affects everything in your life. It’s at your core. If you try to fight it, you’ll lose every time.
There are 4 major Temperament Types that are quite different and distinct.
Here’s an example. Say a friend whose Temperament is Melancholy (the Accurate Analyzer type) goes on Barry Sears’ Zone Diet®. She figures out the calculations, gets a grasp on the sugar/insulin science, looses weight, and feels great.
You decide it must be a “good” diet. You see it working. You try it.
Let’s pretend your Temperament is Sanguine (the Energetic Enthusiast type). You can barely get to page 5 of the Zone book, look for online summaries or cheat sheets, try some of the recipes, and have no clue how to proportion the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
While your friend is dropping pounds like crazy, you’re frustrated, gaining weight, and feeling crazy.
It’s About Compatibility Matching
It’s not that the Zone Diet doesn’t work. All diets work.
It’s just that you tried approaching and implementing the Zone the same way as your friend — in a way that was contrary and incompatible with your nature.
Your Accurate Analyzer friend likes planning, details, calculations, and analysis.
But your Energetic Enthusiast Temperament makes you hate those things. You prefer spontaneity and love “just winging it.”
There’s nothing wrong with you, her, or the Zone Diet. It’s no one’s fault.
It’s simply that you never were taught how to diet following the Dieting Laws for your unique Temperament.
The secret is to master your Temperament and corresponding Dieting Compatibility Style™ and then use your natural strengths in ways that make you compatible with any diet you choose to follow.
All diets work and any legitimate diet can work for you.
But only if you learn to bend your dieting approach to suit your unique Temperament and personal Dieting Compatibility Style.
If not, you won’t be able to follow your diet, it’s humanly impossible to stick with it, and you’re doomed to dieting failure…again.