Restrictive diets can make you feel trapped — leaving you longing for the goodies you want to indulge in but can’t because your diet says so. Often, being unable to eat something you want based on this restriction will not make that craving dissipate, but rather amplify.
Flexible dieting is, well, flexible. You can eat anything you want without any food groups being restricted. It may sound too good to be true, but is it?
This article explores a flexible diet and whether or not it can help you lose weight.
What Is a Flexible Diet?
There is no denying that we all have foods we love — and we want to eat them. Restricting your diet in such a way can lead to a serious craving for a forbidden food group. Knowing that you can’t give in to the craving will not help your diet last very long. One taste and you can easily find yourself in a downward spiral. It is tough to get back on track if you can at all.
A flexible diet saves you from this vicious cycle.
Flexible dieting focuses on eating a certain amount of calories regardless of what foods you eat. For instance, you can eat well all day and leave a little wiggle room in your caloric intake so that you may have that decadent chocolate dessert after dinner.
Denying yourself something you are craving will not make the craving go away. However, allowing yourself to eat it while you are on a restrictive diet can lead to feelings of guilt that may even cause you to rebound.
You will find more balance and stability with a flexible diet.
Will a Flexible Diet Help You To Lose Weight?
Losing weight on a flexible diet is very possible. To understand why, let’s take a closer look at how it works.
Unlike restrictive diets that take entire food groups off the table, flexible dieting allows you to eat anything you want — including all the foods you love. You will consume all macro groups, including proteins, carbs, and fats. However, your caloric intake should remain under a certain amount based on some personal factors. Your weight loss coach can help you to determine the best number for you.
Tracking what you eat is very important for a flexible diet if you want to lose weight. Eating anything you want is great, but only if you do so in moderation and stay within your allotted calories. Of course, adding a fitness plan to your daily routine will also help you to achieve your weight loss goals.
Is a Flexible Diet Right For You?
With so many different types of diets available, how do you know if a flexible diet is right for you?
Eating anything you want without being deprived is the best way to achieve lifelong weight loss. This is especially true since there are so many different situations you will face in day-to-day life relating to food. Having flexibility allows you to live life more freely while caring for your body.
But is it the right diet for you?
A flexible diet is sustainable — and, when personalized, can yield great results. Working with a weight loss coach can help you understand your needs and goals more deeply. And, in turn, will allow you to create an individualized plan for weight loss success.
The nutrition coaches of Beyond the Box Nutrition take you beyond dieting, helping you to create a balanced lifestyle and a healthy relationship with food with a plan designed to fit your life.
