7 Honest Signs You’re On A Bad Diet

With so many diets out there, it can be difficult to choose which one is best for you. One person you know may have some good luck going Paleo, while another person might thrive better eating a plant-based diet.

One thing for sure, though, is that not one diet is for everyone. If you’re not careful, you may end up creating eating patterns that could end up being worse for you.

A bad diet could not only sabotage your road to success, but make you unhealthy and unmotivated and throw your body off whack.

If you’re thinking about starting a new diet or changing up your eating habits, you want to make sure you do it the right way. Before you jump into anything, consider these seven signs you’re on a bad diet.

1. You’re Always Hungry

A diet likely isn’t working for you if you constantly feel hungry. You might feel like you need to drastically restrict your calories to see results, but if you cut down too much, it’s likely you’ll end up overeating. Plus, you need sufficient energy to get through the day and incorporate other healthy habits such as working out.

hungry photo
Photo by Chaquetadepollo.

2. It Eliminates Whole Food Groups

It’s tempting to think that cutting just carbs will have you on the fast track to lose weight, but each food group serves a purpose, which makes it important to have a balanced diet. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy as well as satiation, and eating fats is actually essential to help you lose weight.

salad photo
Photo by adactio

3. You Have To Change Everything

If your new diet requires an overhaul on everything you’re eating, it’s not likely to it will lead to success. Studies show that small, easy changes are more likely to lead to sustainable weight loss than trying to stick to a drastic diet.

diet photo
Photo by Moyan_Brenn

4. You’re Having Issues With Your Skin And Hair

Bad skin and weak and brittle hair can be a sign that something is wrong with what you’re eating. Studies show that what you eat can have an effect on both the appearance and health of your skin and the strength and body of your hair as well. If you’re having issues with either, you may not be getting enough nutrients.

thin hair photo
Photo by Nadja Tatar

5. You’re Feeling Moody

What’s the point of picking a diet that puts you in a miserable mood? If you don’t think there’s a connection between what you eat and how you feel emotionally, think again. Not only is keeping your blood sugar levels steady critical for maintaining your mood, but the nutrients you eat can have an effect on certain neurotransmitters like serotonin that are responsible for your emotional wellbeing.

depressed photo
Photo by amenclinics_photos

6. You’re Skipping Out On Meals With Family And Friends

If you’re diet is too strict that it’s causing you to skip out on socializing, it may be too extreme. If you’re meal is too restrictive that you can’t indulge occasionally or find anything on the menu, it’s going to be hard to stick to long-term.

out to eat photo
Photo by Rhian vK

7. You Feel Lethargic

If you’re low on energy and find yourself constantly reaching for caffeine or barely making it to the gym, you might want to ditch that bad diet. A diet deficient in fiber can cause fatigue, as can going many hours without eating. Additionally, a diet too low in carbs or iron can also cause you to feel exhausted.

tired photo
Photo by lethaargic

 

Photo by Jitabebe

Food, Health
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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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