The IAA One Minute Blog

With 2013 coming closer and closer, that yearly weight loss goal is fast approaching as well. While diets have become a trendy New Year's goal, do they really help? Insurance Administrator of America has some interesting information that might have you thinking twice when creating your New Year's resolutions.

Diet vs. Lifestyle Changes

Multitudes of people make the resolution each year to lose weight. Although many diets claim to help you lose weight quickly and easily, they often lead to malnutrition and only temporary weight loss. The answer to the weight loss solution might be making lifestyle changes.

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), only about 5 percent of dieters successfully keep off the weight. Most dieters regain a third of their weight within one year and almost all of the weight in three to five years. When you reach a weight loss goal on a diet, it is likely that you would stop dieting and then the weight will pile back on. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a slow and healthy approach makes you more likely to maintain your weight loss. When you reach a weight loss goal through a healthy lifestyle change, these changes become a permanent part of your life.

When you compare a diet to lifestyle changes, you'll find that one leads to deprivation and danger, while the other leads to improved health and better choices. With lifestyle changes, your food and beverages choices remain unrestricted; you can eat or drink anything you want in moderation. By eating healthy and appropriate foods, you can maintain your physical and mental health.

Making the Commitment

If you're looking to lose weight for the long haul, you must make a commitment to permanently change certain aspects of your lifestyle. Here are some ways to help keep your commitment to making healthy lifestyle changes:

• Create a Motivation Board: A motivation board gives you a visual reminder of the lifestyle changes you need to make to achieve your weight loss goal. On a piece of poster board, create visual representations of your goals and outcomes. Then display the board where you will see it frequently.
• Share Your Goals: Sharing your weight loss intentions with friends and family can help motivate you. It gives you a sense of accountability to someone other than yourself.
• Identify Certain Factors: Identify the factors that are keeping you from making healthy changes in your life. Create a plan to avoid or reduce those distractions.
• Buddy Up: Buddy up with a friend or family member with diet and weight loss resolutions. Then share your ideas, plans, and successes regularly.
• Reward Yourself: To reinforce your success, build in a reward system. The best treats are not food related.

Most resolutions are abandoned by February because they are too big or too overwhelming. Choosing the right resolutions, and then planning for them, can make a world of difference.

Give yourself permission to be human. No matter how committed you are, you will occasionally overeat. Accept that these things happen and get right on track.

What IAA has to Say

According to the CDC, healthy weight loss isn't about a "diet" or "program," it's about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits. IAA knows that making healthy lifestyle changes can be difficult, but it is well worth it when you meet your goals. This year, make the commitment to lose the diet and start making some lasting changes. IAA wishes you and yours a healthy and happy New Year.

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