Dangerous Diet Myth #1

After decades of dieting—books, programs and classes—the ‘rules’ of dieting can become second nature, perhaps even subconscious.

Following these practices can reap temporary results for dieters, but for weight loss surgery patients, these rules can be unhealthy and even dangerous.

In our hustle-bustle, productivity-obsessed work world, taking time for lunch can seem like a time suck. It’s almost virtuous in this country to skip meals because you’re ‘just too busy to eat.’ Hey, it’s a win-win, right? Your work dedication impresses the boss and, extra bonus--you didn’t consume any of those lunch-time calories! Great for the diet, right? Wrong.

Missing meals isn’t smart for the dieter or the bariatric patient. Skipping meals throws off metabolism and triggers a biological effect in our brains making it almost impossible not to overeat at the next meal.

But before that, a skipped lunch sabotages those ‘saved’ calories if we start justifying grazing with the thought, ‘It’s okay, I didn’t eat lunch, I can have this.’

For bariatric patients, eating three meals and two portioned snacks each day is essential to:

Bottom line, a missed meal compromises your weight loss and weight management efforts.

I tell my clients to think of skipped meals like missed sleep; your body doesn’t dig it and will let you know! You’ll slog through the day without sleep and you’ll be a starving beast at dinner if you miss lunch.

Tomorrow, dangerous diet tip #2: Low calorie, high volume foods are your best friend.