5 Weight-Loss Strategies That Don ’t Work—And What To Do Instead

Every year, losing weight ranks among the top New Year’s resolutions. And every year, we keep trying many of the same methods—and not surprisingly, keep getting the same disappointing results. The unfortunate truth is that most weight-loss strategies don’t work long term, and some can even make matters worse or cause other harms. But that doesn’t mean trying to shed pounds is futile. Studies show that some approaches are, in fact, effective. Here are five popular methods that often fail—and alternatives that are more likely to lead to long-term success. 1. Counting Calories Tracking calories may be effective in the short term, but it typically results in frustration and failure in the long run. One reason is that calorie-counting is difficult to do precisely. While food packages and some restaurant menus list calories, they’re not always accurate. And many foods, such as those in home-cooked meals, don’t come with listed calories. Even with the help of apps, deconstructing these foods to tally calories is often tedious and time-consuming. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Calorie obsession can turn meals into a stressful exercise of counting and weighing, and can contribute to an unhealthy relationship with food that makes it even harder to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Another problem is that fixating on calories can take the focus off other factors that matter, such as the nutritional makeup of foods and how fill...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized freelance health Source Type: news