WHY DO WE KEEP CALLING IT A "DIET"?

TooFine4MFP
TooFine4MFP Posts: 134 Member
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
I try to avoid the word "diet", like a plague. For one reason, the first three letters spell "die", so it gives the word "diet" a negative connotation from the beginning. But it has crept into our lexicon over the decades so we naturally call any type of eating lifestyle change, a "diet". "Diet" sound so temporary, whereas "lifestyle change" sounds much more permanent. I think when we call it a "lifestyle change" it makes us feel better about what we are doing. I know this lifestyle change I've made IS permanent. There is no turning back to horrible eating eating habits that have plagued me since my youth.

Replies

  • dale49
    dale49 Posts: 37
    Excellent point! It isn't a diet if we truly intend to eat this way (properly) forever.
  • StarryEyedGirl
    StarryEyedGirl Posts: 585
    lets call it a live-it instead!
  • CudyBug
    CudyBug Posts: 742 Member
    techinically it is our diet. Diet doesnt just mean eating less and losing weight, it also means the things that you eat. KWIM? I get frusterated when I ask someone whats in there diet and they get mad and say they are not on a diet. Being on a diet is different then your diet. Anyways thats how I see it.
  • FunkBunny
    FunkBunny Posts: 417 Member
    Aanything you eat, the good, the bad and the ugly all makes up your "diet". Chosing to have your diet be a healthy one is what we are all doing here.

    I think the word diet has just been so over used as a term for eating well, that it's ingrained in our thinking. It really doesn't matter what you call it, as long as you are eating to live and not living to eat, you'll find success!

    Cheers to all!
  • seemego
    seemego Posts: 10
    instead of saying i'm on a diet i like to say, i'm eating normal .diet sounds like we've been bad, and we're not bad, we just have moments, because every one knows that we don't get up in the morning saying, "lets see how much i can overeat today" so we only overeat at moments in our life.
  • SuzanneRogers
    SuzanneRogers Posts: 250 Member
    I made a lifestyle change and try to eat clean. Diets with a "s" fail, you must change your life and your habits for life in order to see long terms changes.
  • FunkBunny
    FunkBunny Posts: 417 Member
    lets call it a live-it instead!

    LOVE this idea!
  • WonderNoodle
    WonderNoodle Posts: 549
    i feel the same. "diet" whether "healthy diet" or just "diet" sounds like you're in a regimen for a specific amount of time.

    i refer to my journey as "habit changes" "healthy food choices".

    i'm trying SO hard NOT to impose my food issues on my little girls. i always weigh in private so they never see me worrying about the "number". i don't want their "number" to define them as so many of us here have. food is healthy or it's not. i don't use the words "low-calorie" "fat free" "fattening". mommy isn't fat, mommy is unhealthy right now and working on being healthy like them.

    let's hope we can change OUR mindsets for the next generation not to feel the same pressure and experience the same issues we have. :drinker:
  • Luckymam
    Luckymam Posts: 300
    I know what you mean. I too hate the phrase "going on a diet". It implies that you're going to do something for a short time then go back to what you were doing before. There's no point. I've tried so many "diets" before and they don't work long-term. Any regime where you eat fewer calories than you need will work - we need to learn how to keep it off. We need to change our attitude to food. We need to control food, rather than letting it control us. We need to allow ourself treats (NOT 'cheats!!!! This implies we have somehow done something wrong) and realise that the world will not end if we enjoy ourselves!
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I agree to a point, what we are doing is a lifestyle change, but what we are doing right now isn't permanent we are all trying to loose weight, one day we will reach out goal, and no longer be loosing weight, and be in maintenance mode, that will be the permanent part. so in a way we are on a "diet" but a healthy kind, one the leads to a permanent healthy way of life.
  • arnoldnagy
    arnoldnagy Posts: 51 Member
    I preffer to call it a "Budget".

    I have made better progress since I started looking at my calorie intake as a bank account. My 1770 calories is what I have to spend for the day. If I choose to spend them all in one place I can (it's not the healthiest option, but it is my choice). If I go over my calories for the day I need to pay that back in the following days. If I have a big event or night out coming up I will try to save a few extra calories on the days leading up to it.

    When I excercise I am earning more calories to spend. I have no problem using some of these as a treat.

    If I choose to go over my "Budget" for the day, than I am choosing to gain weight. If I stay under "Budget" I am choosing to lose weight.

    This philosophy has given me a better feeling of power and control over the process.

    ~Arny

    -Edited for my lousy spelling
  • megamom
    megamom Posts: 920 Member
    I always failed at "diets" so for me I call this my healthy eating plan. But your correct on the real meaning of the use of the word diet. I always have to ask my patients what their diet consists of when I am doing teaching, meaning food intake and the majority of them will say, Oh.... I am not on a diet, LOL.
  • countrymama08
    countrymama08 Posts: 92
    techinically it is our diet. Diet doesnt just mean eating less and losing weight, it also means the things that you eat. KWIM? I get frusterated when I ask someone whats in there diet and they get mad and say they are not on a diet. Being on a diet is different then your diet. Anyways thats how I see it.

    This and the post below it. Diet is what we eat. It's funny because I would rather say that I am changing my diet or watching my diet than lifestyle change. I am not sure why but I don't like that terminology. It is semantics. Whatever helps you in your mind.
  • bjberry
    bjberry Posts: 665 Member
    lets call it a live-it instead!
    I love this suggestion! Much shorter than "healthy lifestyle"! :drinker: (lots of water)
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,176 Member
    techinically it is our diet. Diet doesnt just mean eating less and losing weight, it also means the things that you eat. KWIM? I get frusterated when I ask someone whats in there diet and they get mad and say they are not on a diet. Being on a diet is different then your diet. Anyways thats how I see it.

    This and the post below it. Diet is what we eat. It's funny because I would rather say that I am changing my diet or watching my diet than lifestyle change. I am not sure why but I don't like that terminology. It is semantics. Whatever helps you in your mind.
    Agreed. My diet is what I eat. Nothing more, nothing less. That is different from being on a diet in my mind.
  • jlizgar
    jlizgar Posts: 104
    I agree to a point, what we are doing is a lifestyle change, but what we are doing right now isn't permanent we are all trying to loose weight, one day we will reach out goal, and no longer be loosing weight, and be in maintenance mode, that will be the permanent part. so in a way we are on a "diet" but a healthy kind, one the leads to a permanent healthy way of life.

    True, we all have a goal we are working towards with our new lifestyles and hopefully we all reach our goals, but even once I reach my goal, I still plan to eat healthy foods, make wise food choices, stay within a certain number of calories and workout as much as I can....when I reach my goal, nothing for me is really going to change...I may eat a bit more or not beat myself up as much when I have an off day, but im going to generally be living life the same way.
    I dont really care for the word diet personally, not in the sense of a temporary way of eatting to reach a goal and then you go back to your old habits, KWIM.
  • lilchino4af
    lilchino4af Posts: 1,292 Member
    I preffer to call it a "Budget".

    I have made better progress since I started looking at my calorie intake as a bank account. My 1770 calories is what I have to spend for the day. If I choose to spend them all in one place I can (it's not the healthiest option, but it is my choice). If I go over my calories for the day I need to pay that back in the following days. If I have a big event or night out coming up I will try to save a few extra calories on the days leading up to it.

    When I excercise I am earning more calories to spend. I have no problem using some of these as a treat.

    If I choose to go over my "Budget" for the day, than I am choosing to gain weight. If I stay under "Budget" I am choosing to lose weight.

    This philosophy has given me a better feeling of power and control over the process.

    ~Arny
    I love this analogy! This creatively explains eating differently in a way that most people can understand and has a better chance of helping them stick to the change because it makes sense!
  • SharonsJetSet
    SharonsJetSet Posts: 159
    lets call it a live-it instead!

    this is awesome!!
  • akaDumbo
    akaDumbo Posts: 187
    It is all a matter of perception, some people may think that a diet is depriving, I only think that way if it has the word "restricted" in front of it. As far as I'm concerned dietry requirements apply to every living being, whether fat or thin, animal or human.

    I just checked an online medical dictionary for the definition:

    diet /di·et/ (di´it) the customary amount and kind of food and drink taken by a person from day to day; more narrowly, a diet planned to meet specific requirements of the individual, including or excluding certain foods.di´etary

    I also checked the origins of the word in a different dictionary:

    ML dieta, diet, daily food allowance (meaning infl. by diet) < L diaeta < Gr diaita, way of life

    In other words it originally came from Greek and meant "WAY OF LIFE"

    So I am quite happy to call what I eat "my diet" :bigsmile:
  • am_lowe
    am_lowe Posts: 113
    i've never been a big dieter. but i still catch myself slipping up. for me, i just think i need to find a better way to say "i don't want to eat that" without using the d word. something like "im trying to watch my calories" instead of "diet"? i don't know, we need to think of some. anyone have any?
  • dj_stevie_c
    dj_stevie_c Posts: 270
    The word has lost it's meaning.

    If you ask me "what is the diet of the lowland gorilla" it means 'what does it eat" not "what does it eat to lose weight" your diet is your diet no matter what it is, when you change your diet, it's still your diet.

    You may start a new diet, but you don't really go on a diet, you're already on one, your diet is what you eat no matter if it's good or bad.
  • LauraAkaTigger
    LauraAkaTigger Posts: 145 Member
    techinically it is our diet. Diet doesnt just mean eating less and losing weight, it also means the things that you eat. KWIM? I get frusterated when I ask someone whats in there diet and they get mad and say they are not on a diet. Being on a diet is different then your diet. Anyways thats how I see it.


    I totally agree with you... We do have a diet... ie the foods we eat... Why do people get annoyed at the word? No matter what label you put on the way you eat, as long as it is working for you and your health... Who cares?
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    I agree to a point, what we are doing is a lifestyle change, but what we are doing right now isn't permanent we are all trying to loose weight, one day we will reach out goal, and no longer be loosing weight, and be in maintenance mode, that will be the permanent part. so in a way we are on a "diet" but a healthy kind, one the leads to a permanent healthy way of life.

    True, we all have a goal we are working towards with our new lifestyles and hopefully we all reach our goals, but even once I reach my goal, I still plan to eat healthy foods, make wise food choices, stay within a certain number of calories and workout as much as I can....when I reach my goal, nothing for me is really going to change...I may eat a bit more or not beat myself up as much when I have an off day, but im going to generally be living life the same way.
    I dont really care for the word diet personally, not in the sense of a temporary way of eatting to reach a goal and then you go back to your old habits, KWIM.

    That's what I mean- once we get to our goal we will maintain and be in a permanent healthy way of life. not returning to our old habits.
  • TabiHerbalifeCoach
    TabiHerbalifeCoach Posts: 691 Member
    instead of saying i'm on a diet i like to say, i'm eating normal .diet sounds like we've been bad, and we're not bad, we just have moments, because every one knows that we don't get up in the morning saying, "lets see how much i can overeat today" so we only overeat at moments in our life.

    I'm sorry but we have been "bad" we have made bad choices a lot more than moments, that is why we are here, most of us trying to loose more than 20lbs, that is why we are learning to change our behavior cause it was "bad". I don't mean to offend anyone I just want to keep it real. If I let myself believe that i wasn't "bad" before in the way I ate or what I did then it is just easy enough for me to go back to those habits.
  • MisdemeanorM
    MisdemeanorM Posts: 3,493 Member
    A bears diet consists of fruit, vegetables, and meat, but that does not mean he's trying to lose weight because it's his "diet". Diet refers to what he eats. If your diet consists of pop tarts and ho hos, it's still your "diet."

    Diet in context can mean:
    - eating restrictively to lose weight (no necessarily healthy)
    - a prescribed eating plan (not necessarily Dr prescribed, but my plan to eat more veggies and less ice cream can be a diet)
    - that which an organism eats (ie, bear above)

    Today, my diet consists of (among other things) broccoli for breakfast and at some point this afternoon a funnel cake at the fair! :) And i'll still be losing weight!

    Side note. when people say "lifestyle change" i interpret this to include more than just food choices and quantity. Unless your entire life is food, just changing your diet is not that much of a lifestyle change. I take it to mean a more healthy diet, along with being more active overall, exercising regularly, eating enough, and cutting out detrimental behaviors (binging, smoking, excessive drinking, poor sleeping habits, etc)
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,176 Member
    techinically it is our diet. Diet doesnt just mean eating less and losing weight, it also means the things that you eat. KWIM? I get frusterated when I ask someone whats in there diet and they get mad and say they are not on a diet. Being on a diet is different then your diet. Anyways thats how I see it.


    I totally agree with you... We do have a diet... ie the foods we eat... Why do people get annoyed at the word? No matter what label you put on the way you eat, as long as it is working for you and your health... Who cares?
    To me, it's kind of like getting offended by the word "fat." I made a comment yesterday on Facebook that I finally realized I'm not fat anymore. One of my best friends hurried to tell me I never was fat, which I know she was saying to be nice, but it made me feel really weird. It's like she thought I was putting my former self down by saying I was fat, when in reality, I was just being matter of fact and honest — not attaching any judgment to the word at all.
  • sagesitter
    sagesitter Posts: 15
    I agree with the negative feelings about the word "diet". My other pet peeve is the word "lost" as in loosing pounds. I don't like to lose anything so we have to come up with another word when we shed pounds.
  • seemego
    seemego Posts: 10
    i like the budget idea, my grandson is type 1 diabetic, on a pump. and this is how they had him do when he was first dia. at age 12...he had a hard time until they had him to look at it as the dollar and cent budget.
  • Raynedancer
    Raynedancer Posts: 96 Member
    instead of saying i'm on a diet i like to say, i'm eating normal .diet sounds like we've been bad, and we're not bad, we just have moments, because every one knows that we don't get up in the morning saying, "lets see how much i can overeat today" so we only overeat at moments in our life.

    I'm sorry but we have been "bad" we have made bad choices a lot more than moments, that is why we are here, most of us trying to loose more than 20lbs, that is why we are learning to change our behavior cause it was "bad". I don't mean to offend anyone I just want to keep it real. If I let myself believe that i wasn't "bad" before in the way I ate or what I did then it is just easy enough for me to go back to those habits.

    Saying that you (and we) were or are "bad" seems a little judgemental. And I really don't care to beat myself up like that. We simply had choices to make and we made poor choices. We are here because we choose to correct our errors and make better choices for ourselves.
    Here's wishing the best for everyone along their journeys to a healthier person:drinker:

    Cathy
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