Diet Resistant?

Can You Really Be Diet Resistant?

In 1992, a study was conducted on individuals who reported eating less than 1200 calories daily but struggled to lose weight. Researchers set out to explore this phenomenon, asking questions like: Are their bodies kicking into starvation mode? Do their bodies process calories differently? Was something else going on?

To answer these questions, the researchers brought these individuals into a metabolic ward and used an energy tracking system that involved “doubly-labeled water.” This allowed them to track everything exactly: how much energy was expelled via waste, sweat, or breath, and how many calories were consumed.

The result? Not much! The study found that the subjects’ total energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate were within 5% of the predicted values for body composition, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the thermic effects of food and exercise.

But here’s what the study did reveal: subjects in the diet-resistant group drastically underestimated how many calories they were eating by an average of 47%. This meant they thought they were eating 1200 calories, but actually consumed 1800 calories or more. Additionally, they overestimated how many calories they burned through exercise by 51%.

Combine these two things, and most of us have a massive discrepancy between how much we think we eat and how much we actually eat.

We Humans Suck at All Sorts of Things!

Life is hard, and we humans aren’t cut out to thrive in a world of abundance. At the same time, we’re pretty bad at quite a few things. But we’re really good at crafting narratives.

Our brains will jump through hoops to craft a story that explains why our body doesn’t obey the same laws of thermodynamics as everybody else. It’s similar to the story we tell ourselves about getting older: “Of course I gained weight, my metabolism slowed down when I hit 20/30/40 years old,” when science tells a different story.

Self-compassionate Acceptance

If we’re telling ourselves a narrative that we’re broken and progress is hopeless, we can start with self-compassionate acceptance: Of course we suck at counting calories! Of course we don’t know how much we actually eat! We’re not cut out for this type of environment in which delicious, calorie-dense food is always available.

That doesn’t make us a bad person, nor does it mean we need to shame ourselves or beat ourselves up. Instead, we can accept that we’re bad at this (because everybody is), and then adjust our behavior accordingly.

What Can We Do?

* We can learn how to actually track calories, educate ourselves on actual serving sizes for our favorite foods or meals.
* We can work on eating more nutrient-rich, filling foods that have less calories. Lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. It’s quite tough to “overeat” vegetables!
* We can cut back on easily consumed liquid calories and switch to zero-calorie beverages.
* We can use Ulysses Pacts to protect ourselves from…ourselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, being “diet resistant” is not a result of our bodies being broken or different from others. It’s simply a result of our brains’ tendency to craft narratives that explain away our struggles. By accepting this and adjusting our behavior accordingly, we can take control of our health and wellness.

FAQs

Q: What does it mean to be “diet resistant”?
A: Being “diet resistant” means that you eat less than you think you do, but still struggle to lose weight.

Q: Is it possible to overcome being “diet resistant”?
A: Yes, by accepting that we’re bad at counting calories and adjusting our behavior accordingly.

Q: What are some strategies for overcoming being “diet resistant”?
A: Some strategies include learning how to track calories, eating more nutrient-rich foods, cutting back on liquid calories, and using Ulysses Pacts to protect ourselves from…ourselves.

Q: Is being “diet resistant” a result of our bodies being broken or different from others?
A: No, being “diet resistant” is simply a result of our brains’ tendency to craft narratives that explain away our struggles.