Yo-Yo Dieting (Good or Bad?)

Yo-Yo Dieting vs. Lifestyle Eating, What's the difference? Let’s compare the two.


Yo-Yo Dieting:
-Challenge or Duration based diet

- Restrict calorie intake well below maintenance level

- Eat mostly high protein and low carbohydrate and fat foods.

- Low calorie options

- Very low energy levels due to the restricted calories

- Restricted food choices

- Don’t have the option to eat out

Lifestyle Eating:
- No timeframe

- Reach a calorie/macronutrient intake aligned with your goals

- Flexible with food choices

- Able to eat your favourite foods in moderation

- Sustainable energy levels and mood

- High quality training performance

- Low stress levels when it comes to eating

We call it yo-yo dieting simply because the diet is not sustainable, which causes anyone following this way of eating to find themselves losing, gaining, losing and then gaining even more than what they originally started with.

People eventually fall off the wagon and binge eat when following this sort of dieting practice. This way of strict eating can sometimes last about a week depending how extreme it is and then people find themselves binge eating on the weekend and going way over their calories simply because they are starving and can’t take it anymore.

For some, this way seems like the only option for a quick fix. We often get drawn into the amazing testimonials, before and after pictures, and the crazy results you can get in such a short period of time. But will the weight stay off? Most of the time it’s a big NO. The reason being like I said, this dieting practice is not sustainable. You will lose weight but will put it back on and maybe even more then you began with simply because your body can’t sustain the low calorie consumption provided.

So does this mean the lifestyle eater is the way to go? Maybe. It’s not the only way but it might just be the best option for you in the long term.

A lifestyle eater includes eating healthy foods from the five food groups within a calorie goal, whether you are trying to lose, maintain or gain weight. This way of eating isn’t restricted but in saying that you are able to eat out and enjoy your dessert in moderation.

The results will always be there with this type of eating. No short-term dieting or drastic changes that will leave you miserable or tired. This way of eating will help you in the long term with whatever goal you have for yourself.

I hope this article helped you understand the difference between the two and what avenue to take next when thinking of changing your eating habits.