Do you have a lot of discipline but still can't lose weight? Do you get frustrated when your results don't match your willpower?
Maybe the answer is to eat more. It's counter-intuitive, I know, but there's plenty of logic and evidence to show that it works.
I've tried every diet under the sun. I fasted for 15 days. I ran a marathon. I gave up soda. And while I did manage to go from 287 pounds to 187 pounds., I found my way back to 240 and fought every step of the way.
I finally figured out that the secret is to eat more. And eat more frequently.
I didn't buy it either at first. After lots of research and understanding the why behind it, I made my way below 200 pounds again and, even better, get to enjoy that unrestricted feeling of eating as much as I want.
Here are the 5 reasons to eat more:
1. Eating more ramps up your metabolism
Jon Gabriel, author of the bestselling "The Gabriel Method" who lost 220 pounds without dieting, says, "When you go on a diet and start eating less, your brain sends a signal to your body that you're in starvation mode.
The body responds as it would if you're in a famine and stores fat." It doesn't seem fair -- until you realize that eating more and more frequently -- is what speeds up your metabolism.
2. Eating more allows you to build lean muscle mass which helps burn fat
Muscles are hungry and burn fat. The two ways to get them are by eating protein and doing resistant training (weight-lifting, push-ups, power yoga, etc.). According to Todd Durkin, C.S.C.S., and author of "The Impact! Body Plan," "muscle is a metabolically active tissue, which means it burns energy just to maintain itself. The less muscle mass you have, the less calories you burn."
3. Eating more gives your body the fuel to want to exercise
When you diet and eat less, you don't have any energy. You may understand the benefits of exercise, but it's
impossible to get off the couch without food. That's why eating more will give you the fuel you need to work-out and add lean muscle mass.
4. Eating more (and more frequently) makes you feel full
Most of us can stay on a strict diet for a few days or maybe even a few weeks, but we eventually give in to cravings and binge. It's not that we're undisciplined; it's because we're frickin' starving! According to Dr. Mark Hyman, author of "The Blood Sugar Solution" said, "When you eat regularly throughout the day, you get a slow, steady burn effect from the food." Plus when you eat more you lose the urge to binge and avoid junk.
5. Eating more provides the nutrients your body needs and the fiber to eliminate
If you've been waiting for the catch, the only one is that you must give your body the right kind of fuel. Yes, that means lots of vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live, suggests eating two pounds of vegetables and four servings of fruit per day. These foods are packed with nutrients so you actually feel satiated and your body has everything it needs to be healthy. They are also full of fiber, which helps you eliminate toxins. It's a win-win.
Diets don't work. Eating less is not only a drag, but it's also unsustainable. The beauty of eating more is that you don't have to give up anything. Yes, you will naturally "crowd out" a lot of the junk because you feel full, but even when you do indulge, your ramped-up metabolism will be able to burn it off.
So if you're ready to lose weight, skip the diet and grab a fork.
-- Greg Dinkin is a Certified Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the author of three books including The Poker MBA. He explains in his TED talk how he used the power of both mind and body to lose 100 pounds.
