Women seeking to lose weight are skeptical of crash diets under 1200 calories, fully aware of the yo-yo effect they often trigger.
Nutritionist Anne de Graaf surveyed participants in the weight loss community Valtaf.nl. The 2020 results showed that in follow-up weight loss attempts, most chose healthier foods paired with more exercise.
Motivation fades
The first week of a diet brings optimism—80% feel confident they can stick to it. Yet, most efforts last just one to three months. Nearly half reported giving in to a tempting treat once and struggling to get back on track. One in five simply stopped upon reaching their target weight.
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Coping strategies
Respondents were nearly all women, with 69% classifying as overweight. They've tried multiple diets, typically shedding 1-10 kilos—30% lost over 20 kilos. Some went to bed early to resist nighttime snacks, though a quarter ultimately got up to eat.
Fun fact: One-third confessed to occasionally licking or smelling treats to savor the flavor without the calories. Clever!
Big culprit: salt >
