There are a number of diet fads in circulation. Some can help you lose weight, but others can often backfire on you. Choosing the right weight loss plan can be a hassle, but it is better than sticking to a diet that can harm you. If you are on a diet but not seeing results, or are experiencing even more health problems than before, then your diet is doing more harm than good.
These are just a few symptoms you may have if your diet is not working for you:
If your diet is hurting you, the first thing you may notice is that you are bloating. Bloating means that a diet isn’t working. It is usually caused by your body stealing nutrients from your organs; in turn, you will bloat up as your body eats away at itself.
Diarrhea may also occur when a diet is doing more harm than good. The reason behind this may be that you are not getting the right amount of food in your system, or you are not getting proper protein and other nutrients, and your body is essentially rebelling against you. When this happens, you should stop your diet immediately or see if you are allergic to a food you may have eaten.
If you are eating a new type of food, or not eating enough, you may end up getting a headache. Headaches can happen when the body is not getting the amount of food it needs, when you are depriving yourself of caffeine, or when you are becoming extremely dehydrated. If this occurs, it would be smart to drink water and possibly seek an appointment with your doctor.
If you aren’t eating enough food or if you’re not eating the proper balance for your body’s needs, weakness or dizziness can result. This can occur rapidly, or it could build over time. It often starts with sensations such as head rushes or dizzy spells when standing up too quickly. However, it can reach more distressing regularity as well.
This can make it more difficult for you to go about your daily routine, to reach your top performance during workouts, or even simply navigate your life safely without placing yourself at risk of injury.
Very low calorie diets are notorious for leading to feelings of weakness and dizziness. Doctors nearly always recommend against this type of dieting.
Another sign that a diet is doing more harm than good that is often associated with eating too few calories is mood swings. You may not even realize you’re having them, particularly at first. That said, the people around you will certainly notice. If you seem to be fine but rapidly turn into a grouch, then turn into a happy person again once you’ve had something to eat, you’ll need to consider changing your diet. You may need to eat more calories, change your macronutrient balance or find out if you are lacking in other components of your nutrition.
Many people think of dieting as being synonymous with regular hunger. They think that losing weight means you’ll need to feel starving most of the time. However, if you’re feeling hunger on a regular basis when you shouldn’t be, it could be a sign your diet is doing more harm than good. The reason is that it is very unlikely that you’ll be able to keep it up for long.
Most people who feel hungry when they shouldn’t, will end up eating eventually. Moreover, the hungrier you feel, the more likely you will be to eat foods that are fatty, sugary or salty and that will only lead you to eat too many calories.
Feeling hungry all the time isn’t necessarily because you’re eating too few calories. You may be consuming the correct number of calories but from the wrong foods. If you’re eating lots of foods with a high calorie density but that aren’t filling, you will still feel hungry. Focus on eating foods that give you a proper macronutrient balance and that give you lots of fiber. This will help you to feel satisfied by your meals and snacks and will allow that feeling to last.
When a diet is doing more harm than good, it can become frustrating and scary. However, the symptoms can be addressed as readily as they were caused in the first place. Find the right diet for you by seeing your doctor or talking to a dietician. Never stay on a diet that may be causing you bodily harm–or even one that shows no results after you have tried it for a reasonable amount of time. The right fitness plan for you is out there; don’t give up. Find your perfect diet now and begin your journey to health and happiness.