What Will the Media Do When No One Reads Their Diet Articles Anymore?
How Hara Hachi Bun Me is changing the way we think about diets
Below is an excerpt from a WEBMD article. Their daily newsletter is predominantly focused on obesity, covering it 80% of the time because they are aware that the issue is more extensive than reported—60% rather than 41%.
Why should you, as an 80Biter or prospective one, disregard this seemingly sensible advice? Firstly, because it has consistently failed. Why? The reasons are complex—perhaps Sigmund Freud could have explained, but let’s just say human behavior is complicated. People are unique and often perverse, so generic formulas often fail, despite some advice being clearly unsound. Daily weighing and journaling are detrimental. “Healthy” is a vague term. Does it refer to being keto or vegan?
Furthermore, dictating what people should eat is absurd. The term “healthy” is often misused. Recognizing that taste is subjective and most people have limited palates reveals the flaws in dietary recommendations. Last year, during chemotherapy, I lost my taste for almost everything, even foods I love like chocolate and orange juice. I lost eight pounds and looked great, but I didn’t attempt to maintain that weight after my treatment ended and my taste returned. From my experience counseling dieters, I knew striving to keep the weight off would lead to problems.
Dieters understand the dread of regaining weight. What 80Bites.com knows is that it’s not about what you eat. This is the misconception fed to you to justify continual adult nourishment when you’re not growing taller—just wider! Eat what tastes good, but be cautious with calorically-dense beverages.
Most Americans have consumed hundreds of thousands of extra calories. The real issue is the quantity—how many bites? This aspect is often overlooked, but it is what truly triggers hunger, not skipping meals. The focus on “healthy” has led to binge eating. In reality we should only be eating until we 80% full, which is the famous Japanese principle Hara Hachi Bun Me and correlates with 80Bites.
The ineffectiveness of traditional diet advice is why new diet drugs continue to emerge. It’s disheartening but true, similar to how SELF magazine, since its inception in 1980, has focused on diets and fat-burning exercises. Despite this focus leading to negative outcomes, SELF has not acknowledged its role in perpetuating harmful diet culture. Like the situation in Afghanistan, after 20 years of misguided efforts, there has been no apology, just a quiet withdrawal from the mess created.
The Media dislikes 80bites because it threatens their next trendy diet story. Green smoothie anyone!
From WebMD:
1. Don’t Skip Meals
Skipping meals might seem like a quick fix to maintain weight, but it often backfires. Skipping meals causes your metabolism to slow down, making it harder for your body to burn calories. It can also lead to intense hungTelling people what to eat when you don’t know what tastes good in a particular person’s mouth is NUTS. And yes nuts are supposed to be “healthyer later on, causing you to overeat. To avoid this, aim to eat balanced meals at regular intervals to keep your metabolism running smoothly and your hunger under control.
2. Weigh Yourself Daily
While daily weigh-ins might seem too often, they can be incredibly effective. Research suggests that people who weigh themselves daily are more likely to maintain their weight loss than those who do it less frequently. Remember, the goal is to monitor your progress, not to obsess over every fluctuation.
3. Keep a Health Journal
By writing down everything you eat and drink, you create a record that can help you stay honest and accurate about your dietary habits. This can also offer insights into when and why you opt for higher-calorie foods so you can make more informed choices. Additionally, you can track your exercise routines, noting any changes that might affect your weight.
4. Stay Committed to a Healthy Diet
Eat a balanced and varied diet, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources. Avoid falling back into old, unhealthy habits. A healthy diet is not a temporary phase but a long-term investment in your well-being.
5. Be Active
Now that you've reached your goal weight, it's not the time to cut back on exercise. Aim to stay active most days of the week, incorporating a mix of cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises into your routine. Find activities you enjoy. Staying active can help boost your metabolism and make it easier to maintain your weight.
6. Avoid Weight Cycling
Weight cycling, also known as yo-yo dieting, refers to the pattern of losing weight and then regaining it repeatedly. These cycles can range from significant fluctuations of 50 pounds or more to smaller swings of 5-10 pounds. Breaking the cycle of weight gain and loss is possible. Research has shown that people with a history of weight cycling can benefit from structured diet and exercise plans.
7. Weight Loss Supplements
It can be tempting to take weight loss supplements, but you should be cautious. Many supplements and herbal remedies aren't scientifically proven and may pose health risks. Talk to your doctor before trying any supplement.
8. Finding Support
Weight maintenance is a marathon, not a sprint. Support groups of family, friends, or peers, can provide encouragement and accountability. Additionally, apps like MyFitnessPal, Noom, and WeightWatchers can help you track your progress and stay motivated. Maintaining weight loss is a journey that requires dedication and a supportive environment.
