We’ve all heard the extremely dangerous (and incorrect) myth that in order to lose weight, you need to eat less or, to put it bluntly, starve yourself. Sure, it might be a temporary fix for the weekend and you’ll squeeze into that little black dress or teeny bikini with confidence, but honestly, is it worth it? I am all too familiar with that quick week-long “diet” before a weekend in Vegas or a vacation and I know many young women that have the same mentality. You “eat healthy” but barely exercise and once the weekend hits, it’s all about binge-drinking and late night fast food runs. Been there, done that. But boy has my body suffered the consequences of that lifestyle over the years. It wasn’t until I started feeling uncomfortable in my clothes that I decided to change my lifestyle and make healthier decisions.
Starving yourself may give you temporary satisfaction, but in the long run, it doesn’t work. Other than torturing yourself by avoiding delicious food, do you know what else is happening to your body? I can tell you right now that eating less will not help you lose weight and your body’s reaction won’t be pleasant.
1. Blood-sugar levels plunge.
Not in a good way. According to Maggie Moon, a nutritionist from Los Angeles, “sugar is the fuel your body runs on and if it’s not circulating in the right amounts, every organ in your body is affected.” What does that mean for you? You’ll feel tired and won’t function normally.
2. Slower metabolism.
A faster metabolism helps digest food quicker. Yes, some people are naturally blessed with this. But if you skip meals and don’t intake enough calories, you’re tricking your body into thinking it’s starving and it will try to preserve as much energy as possible. By putting your body into starvation mode, your metabolism will slow and it won’t burn off the food as efficiently. You will probably end up storing unwanted calories that you wanted gone in the first place.
3. Mushy brain.
Okay, not literally, but if you don’t eat, your body has zero nutrients to absorb and without proper nutrients, Moon says “your intellectual and emotional functioning changes.” Imagine PMSing when you’re not on your period. You’ll have mood swings and become irritable. I’m sure no one would want to experience that more than once a month.
Moral of the story? Starving your body is not the answer! If you want to lose weight and keep that weight off, it’s about changing your lifestyle and making healthier choices. Never exercised? Start taking walks or hikes with some friends, or sign up for a fun Zumba class. Still craving a pizza? Choose a thin crust and pick lots of vegetables for your toppings. It’s a process and a journey, but your body will thank you later. If you need help getting started or getting motivated, we got you covered on that, too!
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