Kind of depressing, but important. - Page 2 - MiniMins.com

KD · 29th January, 2007

Hence no diet should be embarked on by anyone of any weight without considerable planning.

Dieters in several studies have been described as experiencing a changed relationship with food, such as powerful urges to eat or excessive preoccupation with food and feelings of being out of control around food, hence they are naturally vulnerable to breaking their diet in the face of temptation.

---------------

More to come in a mo

KD · 29th January, 2007

Psychologists called Herman and Polivy at the University of Toronto have underlined the effect of food restriction on willpower in an experiment on dieting and non dieting students who were invited to eat as much ice cream as they liked after being given three different “pre loads” - one glass of milk shake, two milk shakes or nothing at all.

While the non-dieters behaved as expected, eating less ice cream after one milk shake than none, and even less ice cream after two, the dieters actually ate most ice cream after the biggest “pre load”.

According to the psychologist the effect of the milk shake was to undermine the dieters resolve, temporarily releasing them from their vows of abstinence. After the milk shake , instead of doing penance for the calorific sin, the dieter persists in sinful indulgence, say the psychologists. After all, if staying on the diet is no longer possible then why not make the most of the situation. This seductive thought process - I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb - is a trap which awaits all dieters. After succumbing to one biscuit you feel such a failure you consume the whole packet. You decide to ditch the diet for the day and start again tomorrow.

----
It's getting better

KD · 29th January, 2007

I know this is a lot of reading and many people will just pass it by, but it really is interesting. I think so anyway

-------

But as Herman and Polivy point out, in anticipation of deprivation to come, dieters indulgences “ the night before” can reach legendary proportions. The seeming inability of diets to stop once they have started stem from the Faustian bargain they made with themselves at the start. Included in the loss of normal internal controls are the normal processes involving satiety. Dieters do not eat interminably once their rules are broken but they eat far more than non dieters do.

By denying themselves food, dieters also make it much more important. Dieters are more likely than nondieters to turn to food when they are emotionally anxious or depressed. This phenomenon is created by dieting itself. At a recent study carried out in London, female volunteers were divided into three groups, the first went on a strict diet, the second a rigorous exercise programme and the third neither dieted nor exercised.

After 5 weeks the subjects took part in an experiment which assessed their food intake while watching a stressful film. Bowls of sweets and nuts were left beside them and they were told to eat as they liked. Women in the diet group ate far more than the others.

KD · 29th January, 2007

So it seems the effects of reducing food intake for a period of time are powerful.. and what makes these experiments interesting is that the first described the experience of men who are not unduly concerned about food and weight. They experienced feelings and thoughts which are not unlike those experienced by people with anorexia - with their concerns about hoarding food and seeing themselves to be fatter than they were. What is more, the experience of dieting in itself - irrespective of personality and background engendered in the men in the Keys experiment, a concern about food and weight which they had not experienced previously. It is not unfair to assume that dieting will create these effects in all who try it out.

Aside from the psychological and physiological effects of dieting, when we consider advising people to diet we must bear in mind what we know about they way human beings respond to and comply with any kind of advice, medical and otherwise. Compliance will always be affected by the process itself whether it is simple or complex, the degree of behavioural change needed and whether it fits with the personality and lifestyle of the person. Compliance will be affected by the value of the outcome, and the goals of dieting - weight loss - may contain unrecognised difficulties if achieved. Compliance is also affected by many factors in the dieter herself, including beliefs about his or her personal efficacy, ability to handle lapses, singularity of purpose and ability to muster the right kind of social support. Kelly Brownell has also identified a crucial element influencing the prognosis of dieting behave which he defines as “emotional readiness.” This concept proposes that in order for dieting to be successful one has to go into “training” for the it in much the same way as one would go into training for other projects like climbing a mountain or studying for an exam.

KD · 29th January, 2007

On a personal note, I must add that in my opinion, Cambridge is a fantastic diet to get you in the right place so that you never have to diet again. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to diet, but now we have found the solution to getting the weight off, we need to stay there.

Never diet again. Get off the weight and then get off that dieting yo-yo.

Cambridge gives you time and space to sort it out. The stabilisation part gives you the space to work out how you can proceed.

Please don't make the same mistakes that I have made for so many years. Dieting, putting the weight back on, dieting again infinitum. I have wasted so many years perfecting the art of self destruction. I only wish I knew 30 years ago what I know now.

Get this weight off, and stay there.

Make this your last time!

More proper stuff to come

KD · 29th January, 2007

Yep. Still going on

----
The Set Point Theory

As we have already noted, the agenda underlying most diet plans is that people can move toward a target weight - defined by their height and build, move toward it gradually ( or quickly with additional assistance such as slimming pills or meal plans) and maintain it once it has been achieved - usually on the assumption that pleasure with ones new size will be sufficient to motivate one never to overindulge again. But as we have seen, this process is not easy since the body makes strenuous efforts to resist externally planned changes.

Many scientists believe that people are genetically programmed to maintain their weight within a set-point range which varies from person to person regardless of other similarities like height.

This offers the best explanation for the body’s resistance to weight reduction. Set point theory proposes that being overweight and underweight should be understood in terms of being above or below an individual’s set-point. A very thin woman may appear underweight but may be appropriate for her body, actually being at or above her set point.

Although set point theory is not universally accepted, it is a fact that overweight people defend their fat stores as rigorously as those of normal weight. Also medical science has come up with evidence of a set point mechanism and leptin studies.

KD · 29th January, 2007

Nearly finished.
--
Other studies in the set point theory suggest that it is influenced by diet and lifestyle, cigarette smoking and levels of exercise. For example regular aerobic exercise promotes a lower set point as long as you keep it up, while diets high in fat and sugar seem to promote a higher set point. And dieting seems to promote a higher set point.

Set points also tend to increase with age which is why it is unrealistic and probably unhealthy to aim to maintain your teenage weight in your 30s and 40s. Because of the influence of the media many people who are preoccupied with dieting have chosen a target weight outside their set point weight range which they unlikely to maintain, and then only through a great deal of suffering .

Although the flavour of this essay in relation to dieting is rather negative, it would be imprudent to suggest that all dieters struggling with the cravings and emotional consequences of dieting, should forthwith reject their diets. Many of these people have become locked in a faulty relationship with food, and many are out of touch with their normal appetite, only able to maintain some semblance of control within the guidelines of any diet plan. They stand in danger of gaining weight quickly if they are not given advice to help them over what may be a lengthy transitional period.

KD · 29th January, 2007

Alternatively, well meaning magazine articles suggest that chronic dieters should forgo dieting in exchange for “healthy eating” - the implied promise being that if you learn to eat normally again you will lose weight. This is no guarantee, even so, such a strategy is not likely to work immediately. Hefty motivational purpose is created for dieting and even for the binge eating which will make further dieting necessary and possible. Work must be done to help a person let go of the emotional fix they get in respect of dieting and dieting failure which is to be replaced by something invariably less exciting.

Thus, giving up dieting requires complex interventions, based on education, re-evaluating the values and attitudes which create body insecurity in women, reality testing, re-framing food, and helping each individual find a formula for eating and other ways of caring for themselves which are compatible with their lifestyle and physiology. This, in a society which seems ever more devoted to the pursuit of the perfect body, will always pose challenges.

KD · 29th January, 2007

Think I'm a bit out of order with this bit, but I'll post it anyway.

I bet loads of you can relate to this :-

No diet should be embarked on by anyone of any weight without considerable planning.

Dieters in several studies have been described as experiencing a changed relationship with food, such as powerful urges to eat or excessive preoccupation with food and feelings of being out of control around food, hence they are naturally vulnerable to breaking their diet in the face of temptation.

The Emotional Effects of Dieting

The psychological as well as physiological effects of drastically reducing food intake have been well documented by Ancel Keys in a series of much quoted experiments conducted on young healthy male conscientious objectors without a history of weight problems . They participated in these experiments as an alternative to military duties during the Korean war. The men ate normally during the first three months of the experiment while their eating patterns and personalities were studied. They were then put on strict diets where their normal food intake was halved for a period of three months. Afterward they went through a three month rehabilitation period where they were reintroduced to eating normal amounts of food.

What happened suggests that the effects of dieting are far reaching. Food became the main topic of conversation reading and daydreams for almost all of the men. Men who previously had no particular interest in food and cooking became fascinated by cookery and menus. About half way through the semi starvation period 13 of the men expressed an interest in taking up cooking as a career after the experiment was over. Many of the men found it impossible to stick to the diet - they ate secretly on impulse and felt guilty afterwards. Psychologically they became more anxious and prone to feeling depressed , they had difficulty concentrating and they began to withdraw from other people and became less sociable. Two of the men had emotional breakdowns and one cut off the end of his finger apparently hoping that he would be excused from the study. The remained developed a “buddy” system to help them stop cheating.

KD · 29th January, 2007

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go in peace but with more determination to never diet again.

**MandyB2** · 29th January, 2007

Just read the whole of this karion, much food for thought(forgive the pun), and much appreciated.
Now I ned to go away and re-evaluate

xxxx

minilady · 26th May, 2007

Heavy reading for a saturday afternoon, but it has answered many questions, and explained to me some of the reasons I have always yo-yo'd before.

It's a little unnerving however, as maintenance is just a throw away for me.

Interesting that smoking was mentioned, as this got me thinking as well. I am a smoker and have tried to give up about as many times as I've dieted

I normally go about 3-4 months without a cig and then start again, but find for quite a few months I smoke more than I did before!

Very interesting read and so much to think about.

Tracey
x

29th January, 2007	#16 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology tiny Snippet 5 Hence no diet should be embarked on by anyone of any weight without considerable planning. Dieters in several studies have been described as experiencing a changed relationship with food, such as powerful urges to eat or excessive preoccupation with food and feelings of being out of control around food, hence they are naturally vulnerable to breaking their diet in the face of temptation. --------------- More to come in a mo __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#17 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 6 Psychologists called Herman and Polivy at the University of Toronto have underlined the effect of food restriction on willpower in an experiment on dieting and non dieting students who were invited to eat as much ice cream as they liked after being given three different “pre loads” - one glass of milk shake, two milk shakes or nothing at all. While the non-dieters behaved as expected, eating less ice cream after one milk shake than none, and even less ice cream after two, the dieters actually ate most ice cream after the biggest “pre load”. According to the psychologist the effect of the milk shake was to undermine the dieters resolve, temporarily releasing them from their vows of abstinence. After the milk shake , instead of doing penance for the calorific sin, the dieter persists in sinful indulgence, say the psychologists. After all, if staying on the diet is no longer possible then why not make the most of the situation. This seductive thought process - I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb - is a trap which awaits all dieters. After succumbing to one biscuit you feel such a failure you consume the whole packet. You decide to ditch the diet for the day and start again tomorrow. ---- It's getting better __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#18 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 7 I know this is a lot of reading and many people will just pass it by, but it really is interesting. I think so anyway ------- But as Herman and Polivy point out, in anticipation of deprivation to come, dieters indulgences “ the night before” can reach legendary proportions. The seeming inability of diets to stop once they have started stem from the Faustian bargain they made with themselves at the start. Included in the loss of normal internal controls are the normal processes involving satiety. Dieters do not eat interminably once their rules are broken but they eat far more than non dieters do. By denying themselves food, dieters also make it much more important. Dieters are more likely than nondieters to turn to food when they are emotionally anxious or depressed. This phenomenon is created by dieting itself. At a recent study carried out in London, female volunteers were divided into three groups, the first went on a strict diet, the second a rigorous exercise programme and the third neither dieted nor exercised. After 5 weeks the subjects took part in an experiment which assessed their food intake while watching a stressful film. Bowls of sweets and nuts were left beside them and they were told to eat as they liked. Women in the diet group ate far more than the others. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#19 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 8 So it seems the effects of reducing food intake for a period of time are powerful.. and what makes these experiments interesting is that the first described the experience of men who are not unduly concerned about food and weight. They experienced feelings and thoughts which are not unlike those experienced by people with anorexia - with their concerns about hoarding food and seeing themselves to be fatter than they were. What is more, the experience of dieting in itself - irrespective of personality and background engendered in the men in the Keys experiment, a concern about food and weight which they had not experienced previously. It is not unfair to assume that dieting will create these effects in all who try it out. Aside from the psychological and physiological effects of dieting, when we consider advising people to diet we must bear in mind what we know about they way human beings respond to and comply with any kind of advice, medical and otherwise. Compliance will always be affected by the process itself whether it is simple or complex, the degree of behavioural change needed and whether it fits with the personality and lifestyle of the person. Compliance will be affected by the value of the outcome, and the goals of dieting - weight loss - may contain unrecognised difficulties if achieved. Compliance is also affected by many factors in the dieter herself, including beliefs about his or her personal efficacy, ability to handle lapses, singularity of purpose and ability to muster the right kind of social support. Kelly Brownell has also identified a crucial element influencing the prognosis of dieting behave which he defines as “emotional readiness.” This concept proposes that in order for dieting to be successful one has to go into “training” for the it in much the same way as one would go into training for other projects like climbing a mountain or studying for an exam. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#20 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Inbetween snippet extra On a personal note, I must add that in my opinion, Cambridge is a fantastic diet to get you in the right place so that you never have to diet again. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to diet, but now we have found the solution to getting the weight off, we need to stay there. Never diet again. Get off the weight and then get off that dieting yo-yo. Cambridge gives you time and space to sort it out. The stabilisation part gives you the space to work out how you can proceed. Please don't make the same mistakes that I have made for so many years. Dieting, putting the weight back on, dieting again infinitum. I have wasted so many years perfecting the art of self destruction. I only wish I knew 30 years ago what I know now. Get this weight off, and stay there. Make this your last time! More proper stuff to come __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#21 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 9 Yep. Still going on ---- The Set Point Theory As we have already noted, the agenda underlying most diet plans is that people can move toward a target weight - defined by their height and build, move toward it gradually ( or quickly with additional assistance such as slimming pills or meal plans) and maintain it once it has been achieved - usually on the assumption that pleasure with ones new size will be sufficient to motivate one never to overindulge again. But as we have seen, this process is not easy since the body makes strenuous efforts to resist externally planned changes. Many scientists believe that people are genetically programmed to maintain their weight within a set-point range which varies from person to person regardless of other similarities like height. This offers the best explanation for the body’s resistance to weight reduction. Set point theory proposes that being overweight and underweight should be understood in terms of being above or below an individual’s set-point. A very thin woman may appear underweight but may be appropriate for her body, actually being at or above her set point. Although set point theory is not universally accepted, it is a fact that overweight people defend their fat stores as rigorously as those of normal weight. Also medical science has come up with evidence of a set point mechanism and leptin studies. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#22 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 10 Nearly finished. -- Other studies in the set point theory suggest that it is influenced by diet and lifestyle, cigarette smoking and levels of exercise. For example regular aerobic exercise promotes a lower set point as long as you keep it up, while diets high in fat and sugar seem to promote a higher set point. And dieting seems to promote a higher set point. Set points also tend to increase with age which is why it is unrealistic and probably unhealthy to aim to maintain your teenage weight in your 30s and 40s. Because of the influence of the media many people who are preoccupied with dieting have chosen a target weight outside their set point weight range which they unlikely to maintain, and then only through a great deal of suffering . Although the flavour of this essay in relation to dieting is rather negative, it would be imprudent to suggest that all dieters struggling with the cravings and emotional consequences of dieting, should forthwith reject their diets. Many of these people have become locked in a faulty relationship with food, and many are out of touch with their normal appetite, only able to maintain some semblance of control within the guidelines of any diet plan. They stand in danger of gaining weight quickly if they are not given advice to help them over what may be a lengthy transitional period. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#23 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Dieting Psychology Snippet 11 Alternatively, well meaning magazine articles suggest that chronic dieters should forgo dieting in exchange for “healthy eating” - the implied promise being that if you learn to eat normally again you will lose weight. This is no guarantee, even so, such a strategy is not likely to work immediately. Hefty motivational purpose is created for dieting and even for the binge eating which will make further dieting necessary and possible. Work must be done to help a person let go of the emotional fix they get in respect of dieting and dieting failure which is to be replaced by something invariably less exciting. Thus, giving up dieting requires complex interventions, based on education, re-evaluating the values and attitudes which create body insecurity in women, reality testing, re-framing food, and helping each individual find a formula for eating and other ways of caring for themselves which are compatible with their lifestyle and physiology. This, in a society which seems ever more devoted to the pursuit of the perfect body, will always pose challenges. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#24 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Especially interesting bit!! Think I'm a bit out of order with this bit, but I'll post it anyway. I bet loads of you can relate to this :- No diet should be embarked on by anyone of any weight without considerable planning. Dieters in several studies have been described as experiencing a changed relationship with food, such as powerful urges to eat or excessive preoccupation with food and feelings of being out of control around food, hence they are naturally vulnerable to breaking their diet in the face of temptation. The Emotional Effects of Dieting The psychological as well as physiological effects of drastically reducing food intake have been well documented by Ancel Keys in a series of much quoted experiments conducted on young healthy male conscientious objectors without a history of weight problems . They participated in these experiments as an alternative to military duties during the Korean war. The men ate normally during the first three months of the experiment while their eating patterns and personalities were studied. They were then put on strict diets where their normal food intake was halved for a period of three months. Afterward they went through a three month rehabilitation period where they were reintroduced to eating normal amounts of food. What happened suggests that the effects of dieting are far reaching. Food became the main topic of conversation reading and daydreams for almost all of the men. Men who previously had no particular interest in food and cooking became fascinated by cookery and menus. About half way through the semi starvation period 13 of the men expressed an interest in taking up cooking as a career after the experiment was over. Many of the men found it impossible to stick to the diet - they ate secretly on impulse and felt guilty afterwards. Psychologically they became more anxious and prone to feeling depressed , they had difficulty concentrating and they began to withdraw from other people and became less sociable. Two of the men had emotional breakdowns and one cut off the end of his finger apparently hoping that he would be excused from the study. The remained developed a “buddy” system to help them stop cheating. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#25 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Thus endeth today's sermon. Go in peace but with more determination to never diet again. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

29th January, 2007	#26 (permalink)
MandyB2 Moderator/CD Counsellor MandyB2's Profile Albums MandyB2's Photo Gallery Join Date: 20th July, 2006 Location: Morecambe, Lancashire Posts: 1,910 My Mood: Rep Power: 37	Just read the whole of this karion, much food for thought(forgive the pun), and much appreciated. Now I ned to go away and re-evaluate xxxx __________________ *MANDY xxxxxx* MandyB2- Day 271...Need my drive back!!!!!! - Topic Powered by eve community

26th May, 2007	#27 (permalink)
minilady CDC minilady's Profile Albums minilady's Photo Gallery Bola Champion! Coffee Breaker Matchup Champion! Animal Connect Champion! Tournaments Won: 8 Join Date: 12th February, 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 1,869 My Mood: Rep Power: 50 Diet: cambridge diet	Heavy reading for a saturday afternoon, but it has answered many questions, and explained to me some of the reasons I have always yo-yo'd before. It's a little unnerving however, as maintenance is just a throw away for me. Interesting that smoking was mentioned, as this got me thinking as well. I am a smoker and have tried to give up about as many times as I've dieted I normally go about 3-4 months without a cig and then start again, but find for quite a few months I smoke more than I did before! Very interesting read and so much to think about. Tracey x __________________ Lost 4 stone thanks to CD 18 months at goal (Cambridge Diet Counsellor)