Start a new diet, fill your fridge with vegetables, banish the slightest square of chocolate… Many people experience this start with a bang, with the hope of seeing the scale finally move. Then the invitations, the fatigue, the desires return, and the good resolutions gradually crumble. The question then comes up again and again: why does this never really last over time?
Nutritionist Jean-Michel Cohen detailed on Europe 1 what, according to him, constitutes the biggest mistake that prevents you from losing weight. A very common error, which is not due to a particular food, but to the way of starting your diet, too far from everyday reality.
Why too strict a diet derails everything
In nutrition offices, Jean-Michel Cohen often observes the same scenario among people who want to lose weight. The first days, they are extremely rigorous, follow very precise rules, control every bite. In the moment, this hyper-vigilance gives the impression of “doing well” and offers a reassuring feeling of control. But this permanent discipline consumes a lot of mental energy and leaves very little room for the unexpected in real life.
The specialist summarizes this trap in a straightforward formula: , explains Jean-Michel Cohen at the microphone of Europe 1. The simple fact of smelling, seeing or sharing a dish is then enough to make this overly tense will give way.
Breakdown, guilt, compensation: the circle that prevents you from losing weight
Once the first gap occurs, many feel like they have “ruined everything”. Instead of calmly resuming their eating routine, they sometimes eat more to calm the discomfort. This mechanism, well known to specialists in eating behavior, is based less on hunger than on accumulated tension. Jean-Michel Cohen warns of this emotional spiral: , he warns.
This back and forth between extreme restriction and compensation makes weight loss very uncertain. The person alternates “perfect” days and episodes of breakdown, resulting in a feeling of failure which undermines self-confidence. For the nutritionist, the challenge is therefore not to have an impeccable diet for a few days, but a nutritional framework that we can really integrate into our everyday life.
Jean-Michel Cohen’s progressive strategy for lasting weight loss
Faced with this observation, Jean-Michel Cohen defends a much more gradual approach. His advice is clear: , he suggests. The idea is to start with simple adjustments, compatible with the existing rhythm of life.
In practice, this can involve cooking a little more often, reducing very fatty dishes, limiting alcohol during the week or structuring complete meals to avoid snacking. When these new benchmarks become automatic, everyone can choose to slightly tighten their diet to accentuate weight loss, without recreating pressure that is impossible to maintain. The key word remains progressiveness, so that the pleasure of eating and the goal of losing weight can coexist instead of opposing each other.
What is the biggest mistake that prevents you from losing weight according to Jean-Michel Cohen?
For the nutritionist, the major mistake is to start with a diet that is too strict, full of rules that are difficult to follow. This excessive control almost always ends up giving way to the pleasure of eating.
Why does a too strict diet lead to breakdown?
Because it is directly opposed to desires and social life. Sensory stimulation, taste and the pleasure of sharing a meal eventually win out, especially when frustration builds up.
How to avoid guilt after a food breakdown?
Jean-Michel Cohen reminds us that guilt often pushes us to eat even more. The useful reflex consists of returning to your usual diet from the next meal, without trying to “punish” the deviation.
How to start a diet without falling into this trap?
The specialist recommends starting “moderately”: eating healthier, reducing fat, limiting alcohol. Once this rhythm has stabilized, everyone can, if they wish, gradually strengthen the rules.
Sources
- Doctissimo
“Teas and infusions: the worst mistakes to avoid according to Dr Jean-Michel Cohen”
