Have you already been dieting all your life? Have you actually gained and lost any weight over and over? In such a case, you happen to be a yo-yo dieter. Yo-yo dieting or "cycling" is defined as a big increase or decrease of body mass (generally 10 pounds or more) that occurs multiples times. We've all seen it go on with celebrities. Kirstie Alley has gained and lost multiple times; Oprah has done it; Maureen "Marcia Brady" McCormick got even heavier after she was on "Celebrity Fit Club." It truly is an epidemic.

The statistics aren't good. There are numerous estimates that more than 80 % of individuals who have dropped pounds regain all of it, or more, after 24 months. Women who wish to slim down know these painful numbers all quite well.

Dieting is definitely an emotional roller-coaster. We are so happy and satisfied with ourselves when we cut weight, just to beat ourselves up after we gain it back later. Usually, the excess weight is gained back on account of life experiences such as returning to school, perhaps a divorce, or maybe even raising kids. It tends to just happen. Life may seem to get in the way sometimes.

Besides emotional toll is a physical one. Simply not only is the unwanted pounds a health risk, but recent studies have connected the gain-lose-gain cycle to such potentially life-threatening situations for instance high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, heart problem, and cancer.

Researchers have found that yo-yo dieting generally occurs because people are likely to go on really strict diets. Research reported inside the journal Obesity found that people who followed an extremely low-calorie diet regained significantly more weight than those on a more forgiving plan. You could drop extra pounds on a 1200 calorie daily diet, however the minute you go to a 1300 calorie diet, you start gaining weight.

After you go on really strict diets and put on the excess weight back quickly, you might actually lose muscle and gain fat. Then that's when your metabolism starts operating slower and might help it become harder for you to lose weight someday.

Quite possibly the most dangerous thing about yo-yo dieting could possibly be the effect is has upon the immunity system. As documented in the first study of the long-term effects of yo-yo dieting, women who repeatedly lost and gained weight had lower immunities, particularly lower counts of \"natural killer cells.\" These cells are what fight off infections and are also critical in fighting the early stages of cancer.

So, once you start a diet plan, be sure that your weight loss ambitions is arguably one that one could tolerate. Don't think of it being a temporary situation, consider it your new standard practice. Be patient on your diet and don't make an attempt to drop a few pounds too rapidly. Also, you must tend to have a good support. Socialize with people with successfully lost weight. But remember to be flexible - in case you have a nasty day and ate something you know you should not have, it's okay to start again the following day. But don't forget to forgive yourself. Not anyone is a great one.