6 Reasons Why Diets Don’t Work (And What to Do Instead)

It’s amazing how much time and energy we expend on “dieting”. We take in fewer calories, micromanage our foods, try our best to balance our macronutrients, and feel guilty when we inevitably fail. And yet, despite our best efforts, we don’t see the weight loss we want. What’s up with that?

Truth time: “diets” as you know them are not the most effective way to lose weight. In fact, they can be the reason you’re not seeing the results you want.

Diet studies back up this idea. This 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis studied over 100 trials concerning 20,000 overweight or obese adults who followed popular diets or weight loss programs (Atkin’s diet, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, DASH, Zone, etc.). The results were telling. These diets worked moderately, offering modest weight loss. But dieters regain weight within a year.

Want to know why? We’ll give you the answers in this article. Here are six reasons why diets don’t work, and what to do instead.:

Reason #1: Sugar and Food Cravings

Yes, sugar gets blamed for a lot of today’s health problems–diabetes, hypertension, indigestion, even skin conditions. And it deserves all the bad press it gets!

Your body turns carbs like sugar into energy, but sugar serves no purpose other than providing a quick boost of energy. Even then, it’s only a short-term energy source, as your body burns through the sugar quickly.

When you eat sugar, it gives you a “rush”, a feeling of pleasure and happiness that you begin to crave. You end up lusting after sugar, which in turn leads to eating more sugar-rich foods. And we all know what happens when we go down that road!

Most “diets” focus on eliminating entire food groups (fats, carbs, processed foods, etc.), but they don’t address the root of the problem: our craving a “food high”. For a diet to be truly effective, it needs to take a holistic mind-body-spirit approach to food, eating habits, and appetites. It’s more than just changing the way you eat–it’s about changing your lifestyle in order to stop yourself from wanting foods that are bad for you.

Reason #2: The Problem of Improper Nourishment 

This one isn’t even your fault!

In the last 50 years, the world population has increased by 4 billion. The demand for food has increased, meaning more food has to be produced. The soil where the food is grown is being depleted of nutrients, and the result is produce (fruits and veggies) that contain fewer vitamins and minerals.

Our bodies depend upon vitamins and minerals to function properly, so what happens when you don’t get what you need? Our internal functions are “thrown off balance”, leading to irrational food cravings, obesity, illness, negative emotional states, and more.

A proper “diet” involves foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. These concentrated whole foods will provide the nourishment your body needs and will help you restore your body systems to optimal function.

Reason #3: The Impact of Technology and Sedentary Lifestyles

To be clear, we’re not advocating becoming a Luddite and avoiding all technology. Let us explain…

One hundred years ago, the only source of entertainment came from outside the home–i.e., theater, opera, sports, etc. Now we have all the entertainment we want at our fingertips, so we never have to leave home. We don’t even have to get up from our comfy chairs and move around!

All of us spend A LOT of time in front of screens (TV, phone, computer, etc.), more time than is healthy. We engage in far less physical activity both at work and at home, leading to impaired lipid metabolism, diabetes, increased cancer risk, heart function issues, and more. On top of that, you’ll have less motivation for exercise and movement.

Reason #4: Unrealistic Expectations and Short-Term Focus

Many of the biggest fad diets promise you the world in weeks. Social media weight loss gurus spout claims like “With this revolutionary diet, you can lose 10 pounds in 10 days” or “Drop 30 in 30!” We’ll bet you’re familiar.

The main problem with these diets and goals is that they’re far from sustainable, and they tend to be unhealthy. Yes, quick fixes may be able to get you temporary results, but they ignore the deeper issues that lead someone to become overweight or obese (like emotional eating, chronic stress, education levels, or environmental factors).

And then, when the results are underwhelming or the weight comes right back, people feel like they’ve failed themselves.

For effective, sustainable weight loss and actual health transformation, you need patience and consistency over time. Your habits didn’t become ingrained overnight, and they won’t be undone overnight either. Weight loss and body wellness don’t mesh well with the microwave mindset.

Reason #5: Lack of Personalization in Diets

What works for your best friend, family member, or favorite fitness influencer may not necessarily work for you. Wondering why? It has everything to do with your unique body type, metabolism, lifestyle, and genetics.

The vast majority of diets are targeted toward the general public, including general guidelines and principles – they’re not specifically tailored to your individual needs.

And this is unfortunate, considering how everyone’s body is different – we have different insulin resistance levels, genotypes, health concerns/histories, food sensitivities, personal preferences, and more.

On top of that, our bodies respond differently to certain nutrients. Hence, the importance of consuming a diet that’s customized for you, rather than going with a viral diet or even one that’s been respected for decades. Your dietary needs are critical.

Real, lasting results happen when you understand your own body’s needs and adjust accordingly.

Reason #6: The Restrictive Nature of Diets

In general, diets are very restrictive – there’s usually a “No-no” list full of forbidden food and drinks. Some are heavy on avoiding sugar, while others don’t allow carbs. Then you have your low-fat diets, gluten-free diets, etc. Some restrict when you can and can’t eat, or even the order in which you eat (water before food, for example).

Here’s the problem with highly restrictive dieting – it basically sets you up to fail. When you’re constantly telling yourself “no,” your desire for that specific food may only grow. And if you ever do give in, you may eat much more than you intended, leading to disabling guilt that can balloon into a very toxic overall relationship with food.

In addition to that, diets that focus on restriction don’t always teach people how to eat in a healthy manner. This study even found that the super popular ketogenic diet can cause health problems like elevated cholesterol and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Once you lose some weight and want to go off the diet, you may struggle to make sustainable, healthy food choices for your waistline or overall health. This is normal in the dieting industry.

In the end, it comes down to one simple fact: we need to awaken our healthy genes and get back in balance! By doing so, we will see the results we want–not just in terms of weight loss, but in our overall health.

What to Do Instead: A Holistic Approach to Health

Since you stumbled upon this article, it’s safe to assume that you’ve grown tired of the ever-changing diet trends. You may have tried diet after diet and feel like you’re always falling short somehow. You’re not alone – trust us.

It’s time to put a stop to diet programs that aren’t designed for long-term health transformations. You need tools that can make a real difference in your life.

Your best bet is to take a holistic approach to health. And this means changing your mindset – you’ll not only focus on getting your body weight in check or looking better, you’ll also work toward achieving overall balance within your body, mind, and lifestyle. Holistic health goes beyond food rules and relies heavily on supporting your body’s natural ability to thrive.

And this is where Stefan’s method comes in.

Stefan’s method is designed to address all of the problems we see with many diets!

He will lead you through the transformation by showing you specific actions you need to take to:

• Break the addiction to food.
• Eliminate irrational cravings and behaviors
• Get moving again
• Control weight gain
• Exercise self-control and awareness
• Achieve a happy existence

Making these changes would not only be good for you, but also for your entire family and everyone you love! It may sound scary initially, but it’ll be worth it.

This is not the next new diet or new workout program, but it’s a novel way of life to help you reap the benefits of good health.

When you learn how to love your body, you’ll find that it loves you right back!

Note on eating disorders: There are situations where individuals are dealing with mental health and eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). In cases like these, prompt professional help is not only helpful but necessary.

If you suspect that your problem stems from a disordered relationship with food (binge eating, restriction, purging, or obsessive thoughts about weight and body image), it’s important to speak with a licensed therapist or doctor who specializes in eating disorders. You don’t have to navigate this issue alone, and recovery is absolutely possible with the right support.

When you shift from restrictive dieting to a balanced, holistic lifestyle, your body begins to heal and reset at a cellular level. This includes supporting your metabolism, hormonal balance, and energy levels—making it easier to achieve sustainable weight loss and vibrant health from the inside out. One way to support that transformation is with targeted nutrition that works in harmony with your body.

Restore Life contains science-backed ingredients to make you look and feel younger. Plus, it also has some exceptional benefits for your skin, blood sugar, bones, heart, joints and cellular health. 

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Click here to learn more about Restore Life and find out how it can change your future for the better by helping your body regenerate, improving autophagy, and allowing you to live your best, youngest, and healthiest life!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it impossible for me to lose weight?

It’s not impossible to lose weight, even though it may seem like it is. When you’ve been dieting and following all the rules but are still not seeing progress, weight loss can seem like a losing game. This issue could be that modern dieting isn’t the right choice for you.

Trying an approach like Stefan’s could give you a leg up on your weight loss and health journey, enabling you to:

• Support your metabolism by reshaping your eating patterns, eating enough food (whole, nutrient-dense foods), not just less food overall.
• Ditch the crash diets and calorie restriction, and focus on nourishment and satisfying hunger cues.
• Build lean muscle with strength training to help you burn more calories, even at rest.
• Balance your hormones through quality sleep, stress management, and blood sugar stability.
• Stop chasing quick fixes and start building long-term habits that pay dividends on the scale.

So, yes, it’s totally possible to lose weight. You just need to find the right remedies for you.

At what age is it impossible to lose weight?

There is no age at which losing weight is impossible. But as you age, it can get much harder to do so. From hormonal changes to lifestyle shifts to muscle mass loss, many factors may come up against you as the years pile up. But, regardless of your age, there are diet plans and lifestyle changes you can try to achieve your health and weight loss goals.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds?

There’s no way to tell how long it will take for you to lose 20 pounds, as there are so many factors in play when it comes to weight loss. However, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthy weight loss is considered about 1-2 pounds a week.

At this rate, it could take anywhere from 10 to 20 weeks to lose 20 pounds. Just remember that weight loss is individual. Your weight loss journey may look different from these estimates, depending on your specific diet, lifestyle, etc.

Does drinking water increase metabolism?

Yes, when you drink water, your metabolism increases. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, research shows that drinking 500 ml of water three times daily prompted thermogenesis, which increases your metabolism. This can cause you to burn a few extra calories, which is significant if you’re on a weight loss journey.

How to break a weight loss plateau?

When you’re looking to break a weight loss plateau (where you’ve lost weight and can’t lose anymore), diet culture will tell you to work yourself into the ground to lose more weight. But the main thing to do here is self-reflection.

Think about how your diet is; are you eating healthy? Do you get active on a regular basis? How intense are your workouts? Are you sleeping well? Has your stress gotten out of hand? All of these factors (and more) can cause a weight loss plateau.

It could be that you need a change in one or more areas to get the scale moving in the right direction again. Considering that, it makes sense to talk to a certified intuitive eating counselor, registered dietitian, or nutritionist for more information.

Sources

Comparison of dietary macronutrient patterns of 14 popular named dietary programmes for weight and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials

Physiology, Carbohydrates

Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence

Sedentary Lifestyle: Overview of Updated Evidence of Potential Health Risks

A systematic literature review on obesity: Understanding the causes & consequences of obesity and reviewing various machine learning approaches used to predict obesity

Tailoring dietary approaches for weight loss

Stefan’s Method for Shedding Belly Fat

Steps for Losing Weight

Effect of ‘Water Induced Thermogenesis’ on Body Weight, Body Mass Index and Body Composition of Overweight Subjects

Thermogenesis

Unintended consequences of dieting: How restrictive eating habits can harm your health