I have gotten so many questions about Mission Possible that I’ve started a new ‘sub-feature’ called Mission Possible FAQs. I am always happy to address questions that come to me and will be doing so over the next few days. Feel free to leave any questions below, or in the Mission Possible forum, or of course, you can PM me.
One reader asks: Why do you seem to be so down on weight loss programs and diets? Lots of people have been helped by centers like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and yet you seem to have some sort of vendetta against them. You also seem to dislike all diets. Are you qualified to give dieting advice more so than some of these books/diets you‘re speaking out against?
Well, to respond to your question first let me say I certainly apologize if anyone has been offended by something I’ve written. The bottom line is that weight loss for someone who is overweight is always a good thing. But I do really believe that it does matter how you get there. To break your question down let’s talk about centers, diets and my qualifications.
Weight Loss Centers
I am not against any weight loss centers that offer a well rounded eating plan that is consistent with dietary guidelines, dietician support and that encourages exercise. In fact, Consumer Reports rated Weight Watchers as the top weight loss program and if someone were to pin me to it saying that they absolutely had to have a diet to follow I would recommend weight watchers because they approach food sensibly and have flexible plans that don’t require someone to purchase their food.
However, many people, including myself don’t have the money to spend on a weight loss program and really you don’t need to. Mission Possible has the goal of proving that by using your common sense and the lesson we were all taught in nutrition–we can lose weight.
Popular Diets
My answer to this depends on the diet. If the diet uses a sensible approach to eating, includes all the major food groups and focuses on several common sense strategies like getting more exercise, portion control and eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables–I’m not opposed to it at all. There are several excellent eating plans to choose from if you need that type of structure. (And believe me, I totally understand that some people do.)
However, I am opposed to starving yourself to lose weight. I am opposed to eating in such a way that you give yourself diarrhea. I am opposed to any diet that suggests that drinking or eating one particular food exclusively is all good because you can lose weight quickly. Typically, these fad diets don’t lead to lasting weight loss but on top of that, they are simply unhealthy. (Excessive diarrhea by the way, is what happens when you’re deathly ill. . .it is NOT a sign of health!)
Are you qualified?
If you’re asking if I’m a dietician the answer is no. I’ve never claimed to be. I’m just an ordinary gal who is sharing some of my weight loss tips as well as trying to support others in their endeavors towards sensible weight loss.
Really, mission possible is all about losing weight using your common sense. We all know what to do but getting ourselves together to do it is another story!