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It’s Sunday evening. Your pants feel tight. You’re not loving what you see in the mirror. You’re not feeling great about your choices that past weekend.
You think to yourself, “You know what, it’s time. I’m going to lose weight and get my life back under control.”
So you sit down and start to Google the best ways to lose weight. You’re inundated with options — magic weight loss pills, surgeries and, of course, an endless stream of diets promising you rapid results (plus all the companies marketing their goods to help you with them.)
A recent study holds the answer — and the key to weight loss success.
The study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University, followed 600 people aged 18 to 50 who had a BMI (body mass index) of 28 to 40, meaning they were overweight or obese. The researchers randomly assigned participants to either a low-carb or low-fat diet to determine which is truly better for weight loss.
The groups were controlled for medications and encouraged to increase vegetable intake and decrease sugar intake. They were even tested for genes, to prove claims by some companies that genes determine which diet is best for a person.
They were followed for an entire year — and the results? Participants from both groups lost nearly identical amounts of weight, regardless of gene type.
The study has been interpreted in a few different ways.
Some thought it meant that eating less sugar and trans fat is what made for the weight loss. Others say it proves counting calories is not the best way to lose weight. The study proved neither.
Rather, it showed one key thing.
So next time you’re at that point where you’re ready to make a change and are inundated with all the ways you can go about it, ask yourself what would work best for YOU.
Is it something you can stick with? Something that seems doable? If the answer is no, skip it. If yes, go for it. It’ll make your commitment that much easier.
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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager
Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.