Reverse Dieting
Let's face it, we live in a world where everybody is different yet, most of us have a common goal, and that is weight loss. Did you know that nearly half of men and a little more than 60% of women in the United States try to lose weight every year [1]? These statistics are very high, and research suggests that an average dieter loses approximately 5-6kg every time they attempt to lose weight [2]. So, if this is the case, why is it that we are still facing an uptrend on obesity statistics? If the majority of people attempt to lose weight and are successful, why are obesity statistics still rising? Globally, over 39% of adults are either overweight or obese, and these statistics have been at an all time rise for decades. Here's the problem. People can lose weight, but they struggle to keep it off. Approximately 95% of people who have lost weight, end up regaining it within the first 2-3 years. There are many reasons why this happens, some factors include physiological, psychological and sociological factors. A major contributor to all of these factors is the misleading information found online. Whenever you search for 'weight loss tips' or 'how to lose weight', you'll probably come across phrases like: “Strictly avoid all sugar and junk food. It's both addictive and unhealthful.” "Try not to eat carbs after 5 p.m. so you don't put on fat.” “Add butter to your coffee instead of sugar and you will experience the benefits of a longer, more energized morning.” You may have seen these before, and you may consider some of them to be silly. The reality is that these tips are very common, and these lie in the root cause of why we regain weight. Over the next few chapters, you'll learn more about how weight loss works, what is reverse dieting, how to do it properly, and how it can help you minimize the risk of weight regain.