Rather than making us feel better about ourselves, diets set us up for failure and destroy our self-esteem. In today's world we have to have self esteem to meet daily challenges and dieting is one of the worst allies to have. Contrarily, education of a healthy lifestyle is simply one of the best. I believe that an adoption of a healthy lifestyle can do more for our emotional well being than any motivational seminar or time with a psychiatrist can provide. Diets only provide temporary weight loss.
Diets are too drastic to maintain because they are unrealistic and unpleasant.
They are physically and emotionally stressful. We simply at some time have to resume our old eating and activity patterns. When we diet, we are not in control. Counting calories does not teach us anything about proper nutrition and how to enjoy meals, physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle. One any given day when you miss a workout or eat a meal that you are not suppose to, you feel an overwhelming obsessive response and the guilt feelings overtake us.