Serial Dieters" Need Psychological Support, Diet that Follows Evolutionary Guidelines to Succeed in Weight Loss, According to Psychiatrist

Psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony J. Burlay, says 'serial dieters need psychological assistance and a diet that follows evolutionary guidelines to break their perpetual dieting cycle.

(PRWEB) January 19, 2005 -- Psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony J. Burlay, says 'serial dieters need psychological assistance and a diet that follows evolutionary guidelines to break their perpetual dieting cycle. This combination will help ensure that the body and mind work together to help the dieter reach and maintain reasonable weight goals.

Dr. Burlay says a serial dieter" moves from one diet to the next for various reasons. There are several areas to consider when explaining this phenomenon and the reasons for serial dieting behavior may vary for individuals. Serial dieters may never reach their goal weight, repeatedly regain lost weight, or become bored with a diet either because they think it isnt working or isnt providing them with instant results," says Dr. Burlay. For some, he says, serial dieting itself is an endpoint which, at some level, satisfies the individual. Though they may never have favorable results from dieting, the serial dieter is satisfied that they are making an effort to lose weight. There is a cultural shift in expectation. The attitude that participation is an acceptable substitute for achievement is often seen in the serial dieter," says the Psychiatrist.

Viewing dieting as a time-limited event, rather than a directional change in food choices, is an error that often produces a roller coaster of weight changes and emotions, according to Dr. Burlay. Dieters often become frustrated when, after losing some weight and returning to previous eating habits, they regain their lost weight and often pack on additional pounds. Intuitively, this behavior is not reinforcing so it would lead an individual to change their dieting approach. However, this pattern of loss, gain, frustration, guilt, pain, and repetition becomes a self-perpetuating cycle in itself," says Dr. Burlay.

To make the lifestyle change required to break the dieting cycle, dieters must choose a path combining psychological support that addresses the specific needs of the serial dieter and an evolutionarily correct" diet, according to Dr. Burlay. Our bodies evolved over millions of years with a diet very different from todays western fare," he says. A diet that follows evolutionary guidelines allows the serial dieter to-- not only lose weight-- but be able to listen to, and trust their various body signals surrounding food. Since an evolutionarily sensible diet keeps your body happy, the process of psychological change is much easier," he says. This evolutionarily sensible diet plan must take into account what to do with sweet tooth cravings, snacking, parties, and other unexpected eating situations that have arising due to the modern changes in eating, according to Dr. Burlay.

Whether a dieter has tried one or several plans, it is important that they start with a this time will be different" attitude, choose a diet which provides them with psychological support, and makes sense evolutionarily, says Dr. Burlay. Accomplishing these steps will put the serial dieter closer to making a permanent lifestyle change, and ending their serial dieting behavior.

Anthony J. Burlay, M.D. attended medical school completed his Psychiatric Residency at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He is Board certified in General and Addictions Psychiatry and is the author of The Foundation Diet: Your Body Was Designed to Eat," (Zen-Fusion Publishing, $22.95) available at Amazon.com and major booksellers. Learn more about how your body works at www.FoundationDiet.com.

Media: A press kit and review copy of The Foundation Diet: Your Body Was Designed to Eat" is available by contacting Zen-Fusion Publishing. An electronic press kit (Adobe PDF) and high resolution cover image is available online at http://www.foundationdiet.com/media.htm

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