Weight loss without dieting.
- , by We Feed You Author
- 7 min reading time
We received the most gorgeous unsolicited email from a customer recently who is happy for us to share her words.
"I’ve been eating your dinners for the last few months I love it and I’m fussy. I’ve lost 13 kilos in 3 months. I just wanted to let you know I’m telling everybody about your beautiful food, it’s amazing. I will still keep ordering when I reach my goal weight too as I live on my own and it’s just easier this way to get a wonderful variety.Thank you and please pass this onto everyone in the team I’d be lost with out this dinner to look forward to everyday."Cathy M.
So, why could weight loss have worked for Cathy eating We Feed You yet we are NOT a diet focused brand?
Let's explore:
We Feed You meals are designed for everyday healthy eating. Across the range, we try to achieve balance and great flavours by using herbs and spices, lean protein, whole grains and plenty of vegetables. We also use lentils, chickpeas, Australian cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds. We even add a small amount of sugar or salt to some meals for balance and we are all about offering a satisfying portion size. This means you are less likely to snack between meals - which is often when extra calories are consumed. We are not about eliminating or restricting food in life, our food philosophy is all about balance and healthy portion sizes. The last thing we want to do is have you feeling deprived, hungry or under fed.
Our Thai green Curry has over 15 different plant based foods, making it a super choice for gut health diversity and overall health. It's a 350g portion size and only 381 calories.
Some We Feed You meals have more vegetables than others and a side of salad with a pasta meals would certainly create balance. But overall, if you eat a variety of We Feed You meals it should help you to achieve a balanced diet. Try to include some vegan or vegetarian meals in your orders to really get your veg intake up.
For many customers We Feed You meals have introduced more variety into their eating (great for gut health) and have taught them about healthy, sustainable portion sizes. Compare this to diets or meals for weight loss, where you are often encouraged to massively restrict your portion size or even eliminate foods or food groups. This can be unsustainable in the long term and can even be risky.
Let's explore why many traditional diets for weight loss simply don't work:
- Unsustainable: Many weight loss diets are extreme and restrictive, making them challenging to maintain over time. Small portion sizes in the diet ready meal space is a good example. People often revert to their old eating habits once they stop the diet, leading to weight regain. This is often known as yo-yo dieting and is what many weight loss brands prey on - weight loss, weight gain, weight loss, weight gain...
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Nutrient deficiencies: Some diets may lack essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies and potential health issues if followed for an extended period. this is particularly common where diets encourage you to eliminate food groups.
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Metabolic adaptation: When calorie intake is significantly reduced for an extended period, the body's metabolism may slow down to conserve energy, making it harder to continue losing weight. This makes the gradual approach more sustainable and encourages healthy eating habits and sustainable lifestyle changes.
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Psychological impact: Strict dieting can create a negative relationship with food, leading to disordered eating patterns and increased risk of eating disorders.
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Individual differences: Each person's body responds differently to various diets. A one-size-fits-all approach may not work for everyone.
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Overemphasis on Restriction: Restrictive diets can trigger feelings of deprivation, leading to overeating and a cycle of weight loss and regain.
Instead of following fad diets, the focus should be on adopting a balanced and individualised approach to nutrition. Consulting with an Accredited Practising Dietitian who specialises in the non-diet approach can help create a personalised plan that considers a person's specific dietary needs, lifestyle, and goals.
A sustainable approach to weight management involves incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense foods, practicing portion control, staying physically active, and making long-term lifestyle changes rather than relying on quick fixes or extreme dieting. It may even involve coming to terms with what a healthy weight is for you and this may be very different to what you imagined. A health at every size (HAES) dietitian can really help with this.
We Feed You's Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Quinoa has 28 different plant based foods! It's a great meal to eat on it's own or share and serve with fish, chicken or lamb.
We Feed You's < than 430 calorie range
As we've discussed, we don’t believe in diets for weight loss, diet food or weight loss meals. Our food philosophy is all about real food, made for everyday healthy eating - supported by satisfying portion sizes.
However, after a social weekend or well deserved holiday where eating too much is all part of the holiday joy, we understand sometimes you just need something to fill you up without adding too many calories to your day. This is why we have our less than 430 calorie range. Use the search filter on the left of the menu and tick <430 calories to find meals which fit this category. You'll currently find 36 We Feed You meals fit this category, so there's plenty to choose from.