The "DIET" trap
SHBoss1673
Posts: 7,161 Member
(this is a long one, sorry in advance for wasting your time, and sorry for any spelling issues)
The word diet is a split personallity. Taken one way it can mean what we eat on a regular basis. Taken the other way, it can mean a temporary change in our nutritional intake to change our body.
I wanted to go over WHY people diet (2nd definition), and what IMHO the word diet SHOULD mean in your life.
I've been on MFP for a long time, first as Banks1850, now as my current persona, as both I have seen many many people talk about their latest diet (2nd term). I always start to shake my head, I admit, I'm biased against diets (2nd term). I have seen what my wife has gone through trying every fad diet in the book (she had her gallbladder removed about 20 years ago from being on a liquid diet too long), watched her struggle, have some limited success, and ultimately fail on every single one of them.
Lets take a quick look at some reasons people have for diets (2nd term) and maybe what a diet (1st term) should be. Note that this is a subjective post, I don't have all the answers, and you are all welcome to add, critisize and edit what I have here (I'm a tough skinned SOB, I can take it without lashing out).
Diets (2nd) generally happen when people have a "wakeup call", whether it comes from a comment, a look in the mirror, huffing and puffing going up a set of stairs, a doctors diagnosis or any other obvious factor doesn't really matter. What matters is the feelings this can evoke. Generally a single emotion in time is a bad reason to start a long term commitment. A more healthy reason to start one would be a long term realization that they are not as healthy (both mentally and physically) as they should be.
I see nothing wrong with the "moment" above, just that in and of itself, it probably won't last. There are reasons why people become big, and if they are hidden, deep, or repressed, 1 moment probably isn't enough to sustain the program over the long term. So what is really needed is a resolution to the underlying causes or at least the ability to come to terms with them. Which is why I always say to look at how you feel when you eat, examine yourself and be HONEST about what eating does for you emotionally.
With that said, your diet (1st term) should be a permenant change to how you feed your body, food should be thought of as a means to keep your body healthy, and a healthy body leads (in part) to a healthy mind. I have always felt that if someone has the willpower to keep up a fad diet for a few months, they have the willpower to change how they eat permenantly and stay with it long enough for it to become the norm and thus sustainable. The problem lies in that a permenant change isn't a QUICK FIX. You don't see the kind of drastic results that make us all feel warm and fuzzy inside. Losing 1 pound a week is far less satisfying then losing 8 lbs that first week (even though many, if not most, fad diets use water loss as a deceptive, and deliberate tool to suck people in).
I won't preach on what you SHOULD eat, as every persons chemistry is different, and what works for you may not work for me. What I can say is that there is a blueprint that if followed, will work. If you stay within the guidelines (and there's plenty of leeway either way in there to suit 99% of us), it will eventually work for you.
So after all that mumbo jumbo, It boils down to this IMHO (that means In My Humble Opinion for those who don't know). You can fad diet all you want, but until you realize that changing your lifestyle is the only way to effect permenant change in your body, you will never reach your goal. And I can guarantee that no matter what diet you start with, the only one that will work is one that doesn't have an end point.
As a side note, I can say now that my wife and I (she has been my best teacher and strongest supporter in this) are both doing very well, we eat generally healthy (with a break from "veggies and white meat" every couple of weeks. Now that neither one of us thinks in terms of "how much I lost this week" and more on the terms of "how I feel this week" in every sense of the word feel.
Hope this helped some people.
-Banks
The word diet is a split personallity. Taken one way it can mean what we eat on a regular basis. Taken the other way, it can mean a temporary change in our nutritional intake to change our body.
I wanted to go over WHY people diet (2nd definition), and what IMHO the word diet SHOULD mean in your life.
I've been on MFP for a long time, first as Banks1850, now as my current persona, as both I have seen many many people talk about their latest diet (2nd term). I always start to shake my head, I admit, I'm biased against diets (2nd term). I have seen what my wife has gone through trying every fad diet in the book (she had her gallbladder removed about 20 years ago from being on a liquid diet too long), watched her struggle, have some limited success, and ultimately fail on every single one of them.
Lets take a quick look at some reasons people have for diets (2nd term) and maybe what a diet (1st term) should be. Note that this is a subjective post, I don't have all the answers, and you are all welcome to add, critisize and edit what I have here (I'm a tough skinned SOB, I can take it without lashing out).
Diets (2nd) generally happen when people have a "wakeup call", whether it comes from a comment, a look in the mirror, huffing and puffing going up a set of stairs, a doctors diagnosis or any other obvious factor doesn't really matter. What matters is the feelings this can evoke. Generally a single emotion in time is a bad reason to start a long term commitment. A more healthy reason to start one would be a long term realization that they are not as healthy (both mentally and physically) as they should be.
I see nothing wrong with the "moment" above, just that in and of itself, it probably won't last. There are reasons why people become big, and if they are hidden, deep, or repressed, 1 moment probably isn't enough to sustain the program over the long term. So what is really needed is a resolution to the underlying causes or at least the ability to come to terms with them. Which is why I always say to look at how you feel when you eat, examine yourself and be HONEST about what eating does for you emotionally.
With that said, your diet (1st term) should be a permenant change to how you feed your body, food should be thought of as a means to keep your body healthy, and a healthy body leads (in part) to a healthy mind. I have always felt that if someone has the willpower to keep up a fad diet for a few months, they have the willpower to change how they eat permenantly and stay with it long enough for it to become the norm and thus sustainable. The problem lies in that a permenant change isn't a QUICK FIX. You don't see the kind of drastic results that make us all feel warm and fuzzy inside. Losing 1 pound a week is far less satisfying then losing 8 lbs that first week (even though many, if not most, fad diets use water loss as a deceptive, and deliberate tool to suck people in).
I won't preach on what you SHOULD eat, as every persons chemistry is different, and what works for you may not work for me. What I can say is that there is a blueprint that if followed, will work. If you stay within the guidelines (and there's plenty of leeway either way in there to suit 99% of us), it will eventually work for you.
So after all that mumbo jumbo, It boils down to this IMHO (that means In My Humble Opinion for those who don't know). You can fad diet all you want, but until you realize that changing your lifestyle is the only way to effect permenant change in your body, you will never reach your goal. And I can guarantee that no matter what diet you start with, the only one that will work is one that doesn't have an end point.
As a side note, I can say now that my wife and I (she has been my best teacher and strongest supporter in this) are both doing very well, we eat generally healthy (with a break from "veggies and white meat" every couple of weeks. Now that neither one of us thinks in terms of "how much I lost this week" and more on the terms of "how I feel this week" in every sense of the word feel.
Hope this helped some people.
-Banks
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Replies
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(this is a long one, sorry in advance for wasting your time, and sorry for any spelling issues)
The word diet is a split personallity. Taken one way it can mean what we eat on a regular basis. Taken the other way, it can mean a temporary change in our nutritional intake to change our body.
I wanted to go over WHY people diet (2nd definition), and what IMHO the word diet SHOULD mean in your life.
I've been on MFP for a long time, first as Banks1850, now as my current persona, as both I have seen many many people talk about their latest diet (2nd term). I always start to shake my head, I admit, I'm biased against diets (2nd term). I have seen what my wife has gone through trying every fad diet in the book (she had her gallbladder removed about 20 years ago from being on a liquid diet too long), watched her struggle, have some limited success, and ultimately fail on every single one of them.
Lets take a quick look at some reasons people have for diets (2nd term) and maybe what a diet (1st term) should be. Note that this is a subjective post, I don't have all the answers, and you are all welcome to add, critisize and edit what I have here (I'm a tough skinned SOB, I can take it without lashing out).
Diets (2nd) generally happen when people have a "wakeup call", whether it comes from a comment, a look in the mirror, huffing and puffing going up a set of stairs, a doctors diagnosis or any other obvious factor doesn't really matter. What matters is the feelings this can evoke. Generally a single emotion in time is a bad reason to start a long term commitment. A more healthy reason to start one would be a long term realization that they are not as healthy (both mentally and physically) as they should be.
I see nothing wrong with the "moment" above, just that in and of itself, it probably won't last. There are reasons why people become big, and if they are hidden, deep, or repressed, 1 moment probably isn't enough to sustain the program over the long term. So what is really needed is a resolution to the underlying causes or at least the ability to come to terms with them. Which is why I always say to look at how you feel when you eat, examine yourself and be HONEST about what eating does for you emotionally.
With that said, your diet (1st term) should be a permenant change to how you feed your body, food should be thought of as a means to keep your body healthy, and a healthy body leads (in part) to a healthy mind. I have always felt that if someone has the willpower to keep up a fad diet for a few months, they have the willpower to change how they eat permenantly and stay with it long enough for it to become the norm and thus sustainable. The problem lies in that a permenant change isn't a QUICK FIX. You don't see the kind of drastic results that make us all feel warm and fuzzy inside. Losing 1 pound a week is far less satisfying then losing 8 lbs that first week (even though many, if not most, fad diets use water loss as a deceptive, and deliberate tool to suck people in).
I won't preach on what you SHOULD eat, as every persons chemistry is different, and what works for you may not work for me. What I can say is that there is a blueprint that if followed, will work. If you stay within the guidelines (and there's plenty of leeway either way in there to suit 99% of us), it will eventually work for you.
So after all that mumbo jumbo, It boils down to this IMHO (that means In My Humble Opinion for those who don't know). You can fad diet all you want, but until you realize that changing your lifestyle is the only way to effect permenant change in your body, you will never reach your goal. And I can guarantee that no matter what diet you start with, the only one that will work is one that doesn't have an end point.
As a side note, I can say now that my wife and I (she has been my best teacher and strongest supporter in this) are both doing very well, we eat generally healthy (with a break from "veggies and white meat" every couple of weeks. Now that neither one of us thinks in terms of "how much I lost this week" and more on the terms of "how I feel this week" in every sense of the word feel.
Hope this helped some people.
-Banks0 -
Thank you
I believe that you are right in that this is more of a lifestyle change not just a temporary fix. I think sometimes it takes a while to get to the point where one can realize this - me, I'm about to be 30 and I am just getting it. I have days where I fall off and eat a bunch of not so good for me food but I am learning why and how I can do better next time - no more berating myself! That has always been my "diet" trap - expecting the impossible and then beating myself up when I couldn't stick to it and thus eating more and eventually just giving up all together. Thank you for the reminder this morning as to why I have started this journey in the first place 
and how it isn't just a "diet" (in the 2nd term of course) :flowerforyou: 0 -
Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:0 -
Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:
And if I didn't show any empirical evidence before, Tam is the BEST, most wonderful proof I could ever give.0 -
Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:
Thank you TamTastic - I really appreciate your advice My weight problem began when I "allow[ed] that one meal to become the norm". I will definately start experimenting more with other cuisines, ect. One thing that I have learned is that I need to think more, or be more aware of what I am putting into my body instead of just throwing what ever into it. Plugging in my food calories/intake those first few days was a real wakeup call. 0 -
Thanks Banks!! :blushing:Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:
And if I didn't show any empirical evidence before, Tam is the BEST, most wonderful proof I could ever give.
(Sorry, it's hard for me to not call you that!! :laugh: )0 -
Hi Banks or Boss, I have been gone from here for a long time and when I came back in I looked for you. Then this morning I fell into your topic and found it was you still giving great advice. I need it right now too as I have gianed back the fifteen pounds that I lost when I was active here. Just wanted to say thank you for hanging in with good words cause you never know who you are going to give encouragment to. Have a great day. Lorelai0
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Hi Banks or Boss, I have been gone from here for a long time and when I came back in I looked for you. Then this morning I fell into your topic and found it was you still giving great advice. I need it right now too as I have gianed back the fifteen pounds that I lost when I was active here. Just wanted to say thank you for hanging in with good words cause you never know who you are going to give encouragment to. Have a great day. Lorelai
I remember you Lorelai. Welcome Back. Glad I could help.0 -
You're so welcome! :bigsmile:Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:
Thank you TamTastic - I really appreciate your advice My weight problem began when I "allow[ed] that one meal to become the norm". I will definately start experimenting more with other cuisines, ect. One thing that I have learned is that I need to think more, or be more aware of what I am putting into my body instead of just throwing what ever into it. Plugging in my food calories/intake those first few days was a real wakeup call.
One example of trying new things. We have a store around here called Trader Joe's. (It is in various places) and they had a ready made salad called "Soba Noodle Salad". I was like "What the heck is a soba noodle??" :laugh:
But, I love Asian flavors and gave it a try. The whole thing is 220 cals and it is delicious!!
Keeping things interesting is a good thing!! lol! I can't just eat baked chicken, rice and veggies all the time!
I also learned to befriend fat. Fat isn't your enemy. I used to focus on "fat-free", but that's stupid because it's not fat that makes us fat. It's eating too much food that makes us fat!
And fat is as essential to your health as anything else. It's just about eating the right fats as much as possible.
Good luck hun!!0 -
Great post Steve. I cannot agree with you more. You and Tam are instrumental in making me believe I can do this, and providing me with info to make my own humble opinion!!
I am never ceased to be amazed at the way I feel each day. When I found this web site I had just had one of those moments (well a string of 3-4 but who is counting!) My doc gave up on my high cholesterol because I wanted to quit my meds to eat pizza.
1st I logged everything. The numbers were not pretty, let me tell you!
Starting with fast food, I took 2 weeks to eliminate the stuff I knew was just plain bad for me. Then I added fruits and veggies (didnt even realize I had not eaten a peice of fruit in YEARS till I went to buy some!) By then the water drinking had been established .
All of this took 4-6 weeks. I sure didnt get that quick fix feeling with only a few pounds lost, but I DID get a feeling of accomplishment and of taking control of my body and how I would live my life. I also wasn't starving and *****y every day like I had been on so many 'diets' (2nd definition)
I then stuck completely to the 1300 cals MFP gave me and worked my butt off for addl calories!!
I have never deprived myself of what I want to eat, I just want to eat chicken and veggies or Chick Pea Stew!!
For those just starting. Read up and take to heart that you can do this. I am still losing weight but that is really a side affect of eating right and exercising more. The real result is that my cholesterol is normal, my heart doesnt pound out of my chest walking up a flight of stairs, my kids dont have to say 'we cant do that, mom cant xyz (put in what ever you want!), I feel energized and alive again!
Oh and those size 8's dont hurt either!!
Thanks Banks!!!0 -
Great post Steve. I cannot agree with you more. You and Tam are instrumental in making me believe I can do this, and providing me with info to make my own humble opinion!!
I am never ceased to be amazed at the way I feel each day. When I found this web site I had just had one of those moments (well a string of 3-4 but who is counting!) My doc gave up on my high cholesterol because I wanted to quit my meds to eat pizza.
1st I logged everything. The numbers were not pretty, let me tell you!
Starting with fast food, I took 2 weeks to eliminate the stuff I knew was just plain bad for me. Then I added fruits and veggies (didnt even realize I had not eaten a peice of fruit in YEARS till I went to buy some!) By then the water drinking had been established .
All of this took 4-6 weeks. I sure didnt get that quick fix feeling with only a few pounds lost, but I DID get a feeling of accomplishment and of taking control of my body and how I would live my life. I also wasn't starving and *****y every day like I had been on so many 'diets' (2nd definition)
I then stuck completely to the 1300 cals MFP gave me and worked my butt off for addl calories!!
I have never deprived myself of what I want to eat, I just want to eat chicken and veggies or Chick Pea Stew!!
For those just starting. Read up and take to heart that you can do this. I am still losing weight but that is really a side affect of eating right and exercising more. The real result is that my cholesterol is normal, my heart doesnt pound out of my chest walking up a flight of stairs, my kids dont have to say 'we cant do that, mom cant xyz (put in what ever you want!), I feel energized and alive again!
Oh and those size 8's dont hurt either!!
Thanks Banks!!!
More proof. Nice AW0 -
just wanted to bump this once, because I posted it so early that many people probably haven't seen it yet, and it's already out of the Recent Posts page. Shameless, I know, but I have always said: "I have no shame, only fears!"0
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You're so welcome! :bigsmile:Exxxxaccccerrrryyyyy!!:bigsmile:
I yo-yo "fad dieted" through my 20's. There is a reason I couldn't keep it off. I wasn't doing something that made sense to keep up FOREVER.
I am a common sense kind of girl and it was reading certain things that struck me and made sense that made me successful at this. Of course I never take for granted that this will always be as easy. However, I am more confident than I have ever been in my life that this is for good.
I just view food differently. I still enjoy myself and love food and flavors but it was realizing that that was OK and that food is NOT the enemy that made me see I CAN do this. It was realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is not about complete deprivation. It isn't one meal that makes you fat. It's allowing that one meal to become the norm.
Also, learning to think outside the box. Experiment with new foods, spices, ethnic cuisines, etc. By learning to vary things up, it makes it SO much easier to eat healthy and truly enjoy it. Herbs and spices are your friend and can make this journey a lot easier!
Anyway, just have the confidence in yourself that you can do this. Food is just not worth it. I did have a wake up call but it was realizing that I was letting food control my life and I got angry and said NO MORE. I decided then and there that I would control it. I will never again let it keep me from enjoying my life, especially with my family.
Good luck everyone!!:flowerforyou:
Thank you TamTastic - I really appreciate your advice My weight problem began when I "allow[ed] that one meal to become the norm". I will definately start experimenting more with other cuisines, ect. One thing that I have learned is that I need to think more, or be more aware of what I am putting into my body instead of just throwing what ever into it. Plugging in my food calories/intake those first few days was a real wakeup call.
One example of trying new things. We have a store around here called Trader Joe's. (It is in various places) and they had a ready made salad called "Soba Noodle Salad". I was like "What the heck is a soba noodle??" :laugh:
But, I love Asian flavors and gave it a try. The whole thing is 220 cals and it is delicious!!
Keeping things interesting is a good thing!! lol! I can't just eat baked chicken, rice and veggies all the time!
I also learned to befriend fat. Fat isn't your enemy. I used to focus on "fat-free", but that's stupid because it's not fat that makes us fat. It's eating too much food that makes us fat!
And fat is as essential to your health as anything else. It's just about eating the right fats as much as possible.
Good luck hun!!
We don't have a Trader Joe's here in VA Beach but that reminds me that we do have The Heritage which is a local holistic health, natural foods store that I've heard a lot of people raving about that I want to go check out. AND its only a block from the oceanfront so what a perfect excuse for a drive (even though its freezing outside! :laugh: )0 -
I would just add that I think every human has their limit, or "bottom". What I mean is, from my own experience, I "hit bottom" on the overweight thing just as I hit bottom on other things in my life. I felt lousy, I looked lousy and "thought" lousy. That's not all "cured or healed" I wish I could say it is but as one lady says on here, it's a journey. I don't know why some seem to have to suffer worse than others before they "get" to the "right answer" and the willingness. I am here now so I try not to regret the fact it took me this long to start "doing" what I dreamed of, being in shape and healthy as I could be(personal best). For me, it wasn't anything anyone else said to me, or anything I read. It was denise not liking denise, an inside job. Then, when I found MFP, I read what my eyes were "open" to reading. We can give the "gift" to someone but they have to open it. Your article isn't a waste of time. It's there for those that are ready and able to "see".
denise in Sams Valley OR:bigsmile: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:(this is a long one, sorry in advance for wasting your time, and sorry for any spelling issues)
The word diet is a split personallity. Taken one way it can mean what we eat on a regular basis. Taken the other way, it can mean a temporary change in our nutritional intake to change our body.
I wanted to go over WHY people diet (2nd definition), and what IMHO the word diet SHOULD mean in your life.
I've been on MFP for a long time, first as Banks1850, now as my current persona, as both I have seen many many people talk about their latest diet (2nd term). I always start to shake my head, I admit, I'm biased against diets (2nd term). I have seen what my wife has gone through trying every fad diet in the book (she had her gallbladder removed about 20 years ago from being on a liquid diet too long), watched her struggle, have some limited success, and ultimately fail on every single one of them.
Lets take a quick look at some reasons people have for diets (2nd term) and maybe what a diet (1st term) should be. Note that this is a subjective post, I don't have all the answers, and you are all welcome to add, critisize and edit what I have here (I'm a tough skinned SOB, I can take it without lashing out).
Diets (2nd) generally happen when people have a "wakeup call", whether it comes from a comment, a look in the mirror, huffing and puffing going up a set of stairs, a doctors diagnosis or any other obvious factor doesn't really matter. What matters is the feelings this can evoke. Generally a single emotion in time is a bad reason to start a long term commitment. A more healthy reason to start one would be a long term realization that they are not as healthy (both mentally and physically) as they should be.
I see nothing wrong with the "moment" above, just that in and of itself, it probably won't last. There are reasons why people become big, and if they are hidden, deep, or repressed, 1 moment probably isn't enough to sustain the program over the long term. So what is really needed is a resolution to the underlying causes or at least the ability to come to terms with them. Which is why I always say to look at how you feel when you eat, examine yourself and be HONEST about what eating does for you emotionally.
With that said, your diet (1st term) should be a permenant change to how you feed your body, food should be thought of as a means to keep your body healthy, and a healthy body leads (in part) to a healthy mind. I have always felt that if someone has the willpower to keep up a fad diet for a few months, they have the willpower to change how they eat permenantly and stay with it long enough for it to become the norm and thus sustainable. The problem lies in that a permenant change isn't a QUICK FIX. You don't see the kind of drastic results that make us all feel warm and fuzzy inside. Losing 1 pound a week is far less satisfying then losing 8 lbs that first week (even though many, if not most, fad diets use water loss as a deceptive, and deliberate tool to suck people in).
I won't preach on what you SHOULD eat, as every persons chemistry is different, and what works for you may not work for me. What I can say is that there is a blueprint that if followed, will work. If you stay within the guidelines (and there's plenty of leeway either way in there to suit 99% of us), it will eventually work for you.
So after all that mumbo jumbo, It boils down to this IMHO (that means In My Humble Opinion for those who don't know). You can fad diet all you want, but until you realize that changing your lifestyle is the only way to effect permenant change in your body, you will never reach your goal. And I can guarantee that no matter what diet you start with, the only one that will work is one that doesn't have an end point.
As a side note, I can say now that my wife and I (she has been my best teacher and strongest supporter in this) are both doing very well, we eat generally healthy (with a break from "veggies and white meat" every couple of weeks. Now that neither one of us thinks in terms of "how much I lost this week" and more on the terms of "how I feel this week" in every sense of the word feel.
Hope this helped some people.
-Banks0 -
This should be added to the Newbies Read post!:flowerforyou:0
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and THIS is why I am so glad you are back posting again ,Steve!
Great stuff!!0
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