Diet - What Does It Mean To You?
What does the word “DIET” mean to you? Do you think of it as weight loss, starvation or deprivation? Or maybe you relate to it more as the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet and other famous diets.
Do you ever wonder why our population is getting more and more obese with all the diets available out there?
The answer to that is quite complex. But a lot of it is due to the fact that popular diets are often unrealistic and are created for short-term results. For example: “lose 20 lbs in a week”; “fit into your size 4 jeans again”; etc. Our generation wants results yesterday. They are not focusing on long-term achievements. So what should we be looking for? Is there a best diet for life?
Before starting a diet plan, here is the first question you should ask yourself: “Why do I want to lose weight?”
· To fit into a certain dress for a special occasion?
· To lower my cholesterol or sugar levels?
· To lead a healthier lifestyle?
Is that a realistic goal?
Regardless of the reason, you should always think of it as a long-term achievement and not a quick fix. Remember, this is something you are willing to follow for the rest of your life. How often have you started a diet? You usually start off with good intentions, omitting any forbidden foods and following a very strict regime. You quickly lose weight and start feeling good about yourself. Then you start feeling deprived and crave all the “forbidden” foods. One day you can’t take it anymore and start binging. You then feel very guilty and return to your old habits. This in turn makes you regain all the weight (and sometimes more) and you then have a low self-esteem again. This is what we call the vicious diet cycle.
How can you break this cycle? How can you know if a diet is good for you? The first question for a YES answer when choosing your best diet for life is: “Can I follow this eating plan for the rest of my life?” If so, you should then answer other questions such as:
· Does it have realistic goals?
· Does it contain all four basic food groups?
· Do I have to omit any foods that I truly enjoy?
A healthy eating plan should never cause you to lose large amounts of weight in a short period of time because this will often slow down your metabolism. It should also contain all basic food groups so that you assure a well balanced diet that supplies you with all the nutrients needed. Finally, a diet should never omit any foods. This will only result in most individuals craving that food. All food can fit into a healthy eating plan as long as it is done with moderation. If, for example, you are told not to ever eat chocolate again, what will you be thinking about when you see a chocolate bar at a convenience store? And if you end up eating that chocolate bar when you know you are not suppose to, how will you feel? Guilty? In reality, if you eat one chocolate bar it will not make you gain 5 lbs. Too often we have the mentality of if I cheat; I am worth nothing and then quit. This has to change in order to break the dieting cycle.
Finally, when trying to lose weight not only do you need to follow a healthy diet but you also need to incorporate exercise on a regular basis. Always take into account your fitness level and do activities that you enjoy. An exercise buddy is always good to have because often times you tend to go do your activity because you don’t want to let your friend down. Always think of it as a journey that will lead you to a healthier lifestyle.
Return for more nutrition related articles on specifics diets and food groups in the next few weeks.
Jolyne Babineau is a Nutrition Consultant and writer for Ipcor.com, publishers of the website Get In Shape. You can find more information about healthy food choices on the webpage Best Diet For Life
Tags: best, best diet for life, better diet, diet and exercise, diet food, healthy diet food, weight loss
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