Is anyone else sick of hearing the work 'diet'?
Letshopeforthebest
Posts: 85 Member
I guess it's because I've spent so many years on some type of diet.
And I just grown to hate the word, and the way it's used. Diet is a word that's suppose to describe your eating patterns. I feel like society associates the word diet with weight loss pills, quick-fix diets, yo-yo diets, low carb or low fat diets, I could go on and on.
Does anyone else feel this way?
And I just grown to hate the word, and the way it's used. Diet is a word that's suppose to describe your eating patterns. I feel like society associates the word diet with weight loss pills, quick-fix diets, yo-yo diets, low carb or low fat diets, I could go on and on.
Does anyone else feel this way?
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Replies
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I've never heard of the work diet. How do you do it ?0
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diet is the food eat.0
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diet is the food eat.
I know it means that. But people that eat a regular amount of food and aren't watching their weight don't say
' I'm On a diet' . This is what frustrates me.0 -
I've never heard of the work diet. How do you do it ?
The word diet****
Simple mistake.0 -
My issue is less with the word itself and more with how people use it.
"Oh, she's on a diet, she can't eat that."
"I thought you were on a diet!"
"I guess she's not dieting this week."
Like..STFU with that noise! What I'm doing isn't a diet in the way they think of it - which is almost always the stupid **** like you mentioned. I'm changing my diet to something that is healthier and sustainable. There is no going back, unless I want to be fat and miserable. THAT's my issue.0 -
I've never heard of the work diet. How do you do it ?
The word diet****
Simple mistake.
When I talk about being healthier, I tell people that i'm not embarking on a diet, because (like was mentioned) a diet = the food we consume. I do tell them that I'm making dietary changes and improvements, which will last a heck of a lot longer than their diets, and most likely work a heck of a lot better as well.
Diet culture is sadly very much so prevalent in our society- it's going to take a lot more than challenging the concept of 'a diet' vs. 'our dietary intake' to change that.0 -
This. We all have a diet because we need it to survive.My issue is less with the word itself and more with how people use it.
"Oh, she's on a diet, she can't eat that."
"I thought you were on a diet!"
"I guess she's not dieting this week."
Like..STFU with that noise! What I'm doing isn't a diet in the way they think of it - which is almost always the stupid **** like you mentioned. I'm changing my diet to something that is healthier and sustainable. There is no going back, unless I want to be fat and miserable. THAT's my issue.
However, I grew up during the 60's and 70's when the verb diet meant you didn't eat certain foods, you ate crash diets and/or took over the counter appetite suppressants, It mean everybody got steak and potatoes and pie for desert and I got salad, vegetables, and no desert.
Getting rid of the word "diet" in the context of what it takes for me to lose weight has completely changed my relationship with food. However, this is just me and may not be true for others.0 -
English is a complex language - words can have more than one meaning.
Is usually obvious from context which meaning is meant.
Eg ' she is on a diet to fit into her new clothes'
'Rice is a staple part of the diet of many people in Asia'
Surely people can tell which sentence relates to trying to lose weight and which does not.
Seems a non issue to me or at best an issue of semantics.0 -
I feel you... u_u
As soon as I turn down a cookie or something because I'm full or if I wanted to save my calories for something more satisfying, I get asked, "oh, so you're on a DIET now?"
The confusion happens when I try to explain myself. I say, "I am watching what goes into my my diet," meaning, I don't eat crazy portions like before and would rather make intentional decisions between what I do or do not eat. However, people hear it as, "I am on a diet, I'm torturing myself. Please, try to test my mental willpower by peer pressuring me into eating the cookies."
Then I start getting the "What are you doing on a DIET?! You're not fat! A cookie isn't going to kill you for Christ's sake!" or something along those lines. o_x
The good intentions are there but ... I'm leading a perfectly happy lifestyle. Please leave me and my eating habits alone.0 -
Diet, to me and many others, means something temporary and restrictive.
I'm not totally against restriction, but for just weight loss it isn't a factor. If you have a mental or physical health issue that calls for something restricted, then sometimes you don't have a choice. I'm fervently against the idea that this is something temporary.0 -
It's the best when people equate diet with just eating salad. I'm like "screw that, if I eat salad it means that I can drink more later or treat myself to dessert". Hell, people don't even need to know you're working to lose weight if you eat what you want in moderation.
(**I try to eat healthy, but it's so much easier to stick to my calories when I allow myself a glass of wine or gummy worms when I want them.)
I also make a point to eat at more of a deficit on days that I'm not in social situations so that it's less of an issue if I have an extra drink or split some chicken wings.
Diet reminds me of being 16 and not eating for a day until I got bored of it and saw ice cream. It's not about the food, it's a lifestyle thing. (Also, thank god for not being in high school anymore.)0 -
I prefer to think of how I eat as an eating stratergy.
To me the word diet makes me think of counting my calories and restricting the amount of food I can eat (basically being hungry and not being allowed to eat).0 -
I have come to hate the words "lifestyle change" - because I've heard it too much and too many times when somebody says it - it isn't. It's just applying those words to another extreme plan.
I can't even say I am doing a "lifestyle change" as I keep tweaking - what I try this week may not be permanent. It's more of a life in progress LOL
Diet - to me is just how somebody eats - we're all on a diet, even if it's an unregulated eat like a hedonist diet.0 -
I think Weight Watchers call it a lifestyle change, which sounds better than diet. Diet has temporary connotations, and we have to permanently eat better to not revert to previous heights of fatness. I don't really have a name to describe what I'm doing, labelling anything can put pressure on.
I just know what I'm doing is for me, and it's working, so I'm keeping at it. It's about getting a healthier BMI, but also feeling generally better within myself.0 -
I like "diet", because it reminds me that what I eat is important! And it's just easy to say that I'm dieting, rather than that I'm having a lifestyle change (what does that even mean?). I know I'll always have to watch my diet, regardless of what I do with other aspects of my lifestyle, and the word reminds me of that.0
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I prefer to think of how I eat as an eating stratergy.
To me the word diet makes me think of counting my calories and restricting the amount of food I can eat (basically being hungry and not being allowed to eat).
^^^ yes! I love this. I hate the word "diet" too. I don't want to give up anything. You are so spot on! Its a strategy. I've managed to keep eating full fat cheese and yogurt and enjoying a crazy indulgent French recipe just by being strategic. I'm still losing the weight steadily and the inches are melting off and the best part is having energy for my workouts!0 -
Yes, to me it means "hunger and eating restrictions", despite the painful 4 letter word, I've lost over 120 pounds.0
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Yes, to me it means "hunger and eating restrictions", despite the painful 4 letter word, I've lost over 120 pounds.
Woah, congrats!! 120 lbs is impressive. :drinker:
Diet is just a word. If you don't like it you never, ever have to say it!0 -
Guess when you have a sweet tooth, nobody ever asks you if you're on a diet
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Whatever word you use to describe it, it's only temporary. Remember you're eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. It should not be a permanent lifestyle change. You'll be off your *insert whatever word you use to describe this* when you hit your goal weight, even if that is the same foods but an increase in portion.0
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EXACTLY. I usually reply to people by saying that I'm eating healthy and I'm not dieting. I plan to be like this forever.0
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Whatever word you use to describe it, it's only temporary. Remember you're eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. It should not be a permanent lifestyle change. You'll be off your *insert whatever word you use to describe this* when you hit your goal weight, even if that is the same foods but an increase in portion.
Well, not really.
Once you get to maitenance you will still be on a *whatever word you want to call it* - sure, the calorie allowance will increase but if you don't watch what you eat and how much you eat then you will re gain the weight.0 -
My issue is less with the word itself and more with how people use it.
"Oh, she's on a diet, she can't eat that."
"I thought you were on a diet!"
"I guess she's not dieting this week."
Like..STFU with that noise! What I'm doing isn't a diet in the way they think of it - which is almost always the stupid **** like you mentioned. I'm changing my diet to something that is healthier and sustainable. There is no going back, unless I want to be fat and miserable. THAT's my issue.
100% agree. Although before finding mfp I was one of those people.
When I see people I know saying they are on a diet then going on to proudly exclaim they are taking this shake, or cutting out this food group, or taking these weightloss supplements I am silently screaming in my head. I do try and gently tell them that they do not need to go through such drastic measures but I try and keep it polite. I used to think like that too.
I do get very annoyed when people say to me 'you cant eat that right?' or 'be careful you dont put all that weight back on'.0 -
I associate the word "diet" with crash diets and vain deprivation too. A few years back, I used to see the weight watchers ads on the subway and they all said things like, "d*et is a 4-letter word" and I didn't understand what they meant because I had never really watched my weight before....
Then a few weeks ago when I started, I was describing to a co-worker why I was hesitant to eat the doughnut that was being offered to me and I said, "well, I just started a new diet last week...." I felt kind of dirty when I said it. Especially the way I said "new" -- as though I'd tried every crash diet on the market.
I've thought about how to explain this to others and I have come up with:
"I joined MyFitnessPal, it's an app for weight management."
"I am tracking the calories I eat. It's very eye-opening!"
"I'm keeping a food and exercise diary."
"I'm paying closer attention to what I eat."
Sometimes it doesn't take long to be a little more specific -- enough to avoid "diet" and "lifestyle change" while leaving the door open if they are curious and want to know more about your secret to success.0 -
My issue is less with the word itself and more with how people use it.
"Oh, she's on a diet, she can't eat that."
"I thought you were on a diet!"
"I guess she's not dieting this week."
Like..STFU with that noise! What I'm doing isn't a diet in the way they think of it - which is almost always the stupid **** like you mentioned. I'm changing my diet to something that is healthier and sustainable. There is no going back, unless I want to be fat and miserable. THAT's my issue.
100% agree. Although before finding mfp I was one of those people.
When I see people I know saying they are on a diet then going on to proudly exclaim they are taking this shake, or cutting out this food group, or taking these weightloss supplements I am silently screaming in my head. I do try and gently tell them that they do not need to go through such drastic measures but I try and keep it polite. I used to think like that too.
I do get very annoyed when people say to me 'you cant eat that right?' or 'be careful you dont put all that weight back on'.
This.
There is no helping people, a collegue went on a VLCD via the internet. All 3 meals to be lactose / milk based replacement shakes..... She lost 2 stone rapidly before being admitted to hospital for internal bleeding, she is now from the level of lactose intake completely lactose intollerant. Before she was able to drink milk with her coffee, have ice cream etc with no ill effects.
Guess what? Shes put 2 and a half stone back on.
I wish we could claim back the word diet, because it is now completely intergrained with rediculous fad diets like blended shakes and un medically supervised VLCDs.0 -
My issue is less with the word itself and more with how people use it.
"Oh, she's on a diet, she can't eat that."
"I thought you were on a diet!"
"I guess she's not dieting this week."
Like..STFU with that noise! What I'm doing isn't a diet in the way they think of it - which is almost always the stupid **** like you mentioned. I'm changing my diet to something that is healthier and sustainable. There is no going back, unless I want to be fat and miserable. THAT's my issue.
I agree with this. I am not on a diet, this word creates mental images of cabbage soup and restriction.
So when the bs starts I tell people I am not on a diet. I just like to eat healthy and I can eat what I want so pass me a ??? (Whatever it is I supposedly can't eat".0 -
Whatever word you use to describe it, it's only temporary. Remember you're eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. It should not be a permanent lifestyle change. You'll be off your *insert whatever word you use to describe this* when you hit your goal weight, even if that is the same foods but an increase in portion.
Well, not really.
Once you get to maitenance you will still be on a *whatever word you want to call it* - sure, the calorie allowance will increase but if you don't watch what you eat and how much you eat then you will re gain the weight.
Agree to disagree, that wont be the case for me. My foods havent changed since losing weight.0 -
Nope, it doesn't bother me at all. It's just a word. I am, in fact, trying to lose weight, and I am, in fact, watching my diet carefully to do so. How others use the word makes no difference to my success (or my lack of it).0
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Whatever.
I'm more ..... not annoyed but..... derisively amused at the constant use of the phrase "lifestyle change" by people who have only changed their.... guess what?..... diet. The paleo thing isn't a diet it's a lifestyle. Vegetarian lifestyle, low carb lifestyle. And when I ask these people what, other than diet, is involved in this lifestyle I get accused of being a smartass. The only "eating thing" I can think of off the top of my head is being vegan because you don't wear leather or fur or use any animal products in any aspect of your life. Paleos can't claim that.
Two years ago when I sold my little place in the country where I was raising sheep and goats and llamas and had neighbors with chickens and cows and stuff and moved into the suburbs with neighbors close by and an HOA that "frowns upon" gunfire in the back yard. That was a "lifestyle change". Not getting the single meat instead of the double meat or only getting the humane cage free organic strawberries or cutting out white potatoes (unless because of some master race ideology that goes further than just food) doesn't really constitute a "lifestyle change" - unless your definition of lifestyle is narrow and lame.
If whatever you're changing or adding or subtracting from your life is completely made up of what or how you eat then diet is the operative word.
But call it what you want. It's your gurney :flowerforyou:0 -
Whatever word you use to describe it, it's only temporary. Remember you're eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. It should not be a permanent lifestyle change. You'll be off your *insert whatever word you use to describe this* when you hit your goal weight, even if that is the same foods but an increase in portion.
Well, not really.
Once you get to maitenance you will still be on a *whatever word you want to call it* - sure, the calorie allowance will increase but if you don't watch what you eat and how much you eat then you will re gain the weight.
Agree to disagree, that wont be the case for me. My foods havent changed since losing weight.
I'm not sure what you are saying.
What won't be the case for you?0
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