How do You know what is healthy?
IAmABetterMe
Posts: 128 Member
I have been on so many diets, and have heard so much conflicting information.... I do NOT know what is truly healthy for me anymore? I have tried:
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
0
Replies
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Eat normal foods... cut out most processed foods... get some exercise.0
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Healthy is a subjective term. Just use common sense, most everything is healthy in moderation whether because of nutrients, calories, or mental health (tasty things).0
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I would say eat anything closest to it's nature. Of course in moderation!0
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The reason that there are so many diets like this out there is because they don't work for the majority of people. Eat fresh, wholesome food, drink plenty of water, and get enough activity to make you sweat on a regular basis. There is no other quick, easy, magical formula.0
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I like Michael Pollan's advice best. "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants." That's doable for a lifetime, imo. Counting %, g, etc isn't.0
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I like "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly animals"
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Read this: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/
It will tell you what you need to know about eating healthy.
ETA: this site is not about "dieting" though it will give you the keys to a healthy diet.0 -
It's funny I don't really eat processed...I just have an issue where I decide certain foods are off limits!0
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Eat normal foods... cut out most processed foods... get some exercise.
i agree with this, anytime ive ever lost weight it wasnt over a fad diet, it was because i simply ate healthier and excercised - this last week i was taking diet pills, in a weeks time i didnt lose any weight, i felt i had more energy in the am but by time to workout i was pooped, i got a weird feeling on most days and i just didnt like it..so back to the ol' natural for me - -seemed to work the first 2-3weeks of my dieting anyway soo dont feel i need that extra fad stuff.
back to subject lol, just eat healthy - fruits veggies grilled chicken breast, steamed entrees etc+
CHECK OUT THE RECIPE THREAD.. so many great ideas0 -
Diets in general are not healthy. Healthy is simple. It's mostly fresh foods. Things that can go bad. If they don't expire, they are probably not good for you. Whole grains are better than white flour. Ditch the junk food. Don't go overboard on sugar (except when Easter candy goes on sale...) Remember that almost everything is okay in moderation.
There's no quick fix as these diet programs would like you to believe. You don't need them.0 -
Healthy is a subjective term.
How so? Healthy would mean a body and mind in good health. Health means freedom from disease and ailment.
There are many ways to achieve healthy, and sometimes no way to achieve it, but the meaning is always the same.0 -
diet= fad. You go on a "diet" once you get off what happens? You gain all the weight back.
My advice- eat food in moderation aka by portion size, try and stick with lots of veggies, fruits, lean meats, whole grains, but allow yourself to eat whatever it is you like. Depriving yourself of things makes you want them more, and encourages binging behaviors because once you get it, you tend to over indulge.
I eat ice cream at least once a day. I stick to serving size, but fit it into my cals for the day.
Do what works best for you, but a life style change, will help you keep the weight off, in a healthy manner- continuing on a "diet" fad will only lead to a yo-yoing effect and not really learning how to eat properly.
Also adopt some form of physical exercise- try for 3 days a week and do something you like, running, zumba, elliptical. I personally mix in weights and cardio but being physically active combined with a healthy diet will change your life in a good way. Better than any "diet" out there!0 -
I have been on so many diets, and have heard so much conflicting information.... I do NOT know what is truly healthy for me anymore? I have tried:
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
Ok I have no idea what the French Diet is or the Skinny Biotch diet, but I know Atkins well, South Beach, Paleo (many different shades of that!) etc. I think they're all fine if you can do them forever. I lost weight well on Atkins, but since it wasn't a life change it ultimately didn't work to keep the weight off. Some people though are perfectly HAPPY eating steak and broccoli and full fat dairy for life, and for them a diet like Atkins is a dream come true. I'm glad those people found what works for them. I would never in a million years be able to be a vegetarian or vegan, so even if I could magically lose 5 pounds a week eating raw vegan, I would never attempt it, blech for me!
Ultimately I decided that I want to be able whatever I want, within reasonable limits. But I also wanted to understand why choice A is healthier than choice B, so I read a lot on nutrition, and a lot of what I read goes against the food pyramid and conventional knowledge. So anyways, those studies and reports and books that I've read usually steer me into eating high fat foods vs low fat foods, but even though I know I should stay away from processed foods, I still love em and allow myself to have them.0 -
I eat "dirtier" than most people here and am probably in way better health. Eating healthy doesn't ensure health. Health is determined by many factors like, weight, rest, risk behavior, environment, stress, and genetics. You can just ONE of those wrong and be unhealthy.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Eat out of all 5 food groups - you must have your proteins, fruit & veg, grains, dairy and good fats - don't do fad diets, don't starve yourself, eat lots of unprocessed foods. Using MFP to count your calories also helps a great deal if you stick to your allowed calories. And exercise when you can!
See it as a lifestyle change... not a diet0 -
I have been on so many diets, and have heard so much conflicting information.... I do NOT know what is truly healthy for me anymore? I have tried:
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
None of those diets promise to be "healthy".
Their main objective and promise: to reduce your weight.
A healthy diet should give you all of the nutrients you need, without adding to it unhealthy chemicals such as preservatives, etc.
As another poster indicated, whole foods are healthy.
You can also eat processed foods, but try to find them with natural ingredients.
For example, for bread I eat: Alpine Valley Organic Multi-Grain with Omega 3
(I don't eat just Organic food, since it is expensive, but this particular brand is delicious and has no preservatives/chemicals added)0 -
I have been on so many diets, and have heard so much conflicting information.... I do NOT know what is truly healthy for me anymore? I have tried:
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
I'm gluten free, to me that's quite enough. It's not about what you can live with for 6 weeks, 6 months, or a year, it's what you can live with for a life time. Because I lift and it's important to me to build muscle I'm high protein and moderate carbs and fats. I do not restrict what I can eat (except for my allergies and intolerances) because this isn't a temporary solution to a problem, it's a permanent lifestyle change. To me my weight was a symptom of an overall issue, and i tried atkins and south beach and a few pills years ago in an attempt to get my "weight issue" under control. Weight, however, was just a symptom of a sick lifestyle. By finding balance I have way more than my weight under control.0 -
It's funny I don't really eat processed...I just have an issue where I decide certain foods are off limits!
If you know that this is your issue, than why choose to have any foods "off limits"? Seems to me moderation would be key.0 -
It's funny I don't really eat processed...I just have an issue where I decide certain foods are off limits!
See I (a complete and utter NON-professional) advise against that. Why limit yourself, your life? At some point you're probably going to eat those foods again. If your diet (like South Beach or Atkins) is all about cutting out entire food groups you're just on a temporary, fad diet. You're not finding a new way to live.
Count your calories, try to eat veggies and sound meals. Exercise. Do these things and you should be able to find success, without cutting out the foods you love.
If you're doing something temporary, the results will be temporary.0 -
Any diet that completely removes food groups is BAD0
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None of those diets promise to be "healthy".
Their main objective and promise: to reduce your weight.
Actually "Paleo" (again, encompasses a whole lot of different stuff) is usually done for health and not just for weight loss, so it does in fact promise to be healthy. Atkins does say it's healthy as well. South Beach does say it's healthy. I don't know of too many diets that say "This is a really really bad way to eat and will make you sick, but you will lose weight!". If you can stick with any of those healthy diets, why not? It's just that a lot of people can't stick with them and that's what makes them less ideal for weight loss, not that they aren't healthy.0 -
This^^^ \m/diet= fad. You go on a "diet" once you get off what happens? You gain all the weight back.
My advice- eat food in moderation aka by portion size, try and stick with lots of veggies, fruits, lean meats, whole grains, but allow yourself to eat whatever it is you like. Depriving yourself of things makes you want them more, and encourages binging behaviors because once you get it, you tend to over indulge.
I eat ice cream at least once a day. I stick to serving size, but fit it into my cals for the day.
Do what works best for you, but a life style change, will help you keep the weight off, in a healthy manner- continuing on a "diet" fad will only lead to a yo-yoing effect and not really learning how to eat properly.
Also adopt some form of physical exercise- try for 3 days a week and do something you like, running, zumba, elliptical. I personally mix in weights and cardio but being physically active combined with a healthy diet will change your life in a good way. Better than any "diet" out there!0 -
- Fresh or frozen (not canned) fruits and vegetables
- Lean protein (beans, chicken/turkey breast, fish, tofu, very lean beef)
- If you eat grains, they should be 100% whole grains (I think gluten intolerant people can have brown rice?)
- Calcium, whether low fat dairy or vegetarian sources like soy/almond milk or calcium-rich produce
- Olive oil or canola oil instead of butter
- Avoid packaged foods whenever possible.
- Avoid sugar and try to use all-natural sugar substitutes (like stevia)
- Look for foods high in fiber and low in sugar and saturated fat.
You can skip the fad diets, be healthy and energetic, and lose weight eating these foods. It will take a little longer, though. Fad diets promise quick weight loss, and making permanent, healthy lifestyle adjustments takes more work and perseverance. Just make sure your calorie intake is appropriate for weight loss, because it's possible to eat too much healthy food and still gain weight.0 -
I agree with the consensus here, find a way to make healthy eating your normal diet and stop "dieting". I still eat every kind of food, even the really really BAD stuff, but I don't eat that bad stuff all the time or to excess. The key is moderation and balance.0
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- Fresh or frozen (not canned) fruits and vegetables
- Lean protein (beans, chicken/turkey breast, fish, tofu, very lean beef)
- If you eat grains, they should be 100% whole grains (I think gluten intolerant people can have brown rice?)
- Some source of calcium, whether low fat dairy or vegetarian sources like soy/almond milk or calcium-rich produce
- Olive oil or canola oil instead of butter
- Avoid packaged foods whenever possible.
Look for foods high in fiber and low in saturated fat.
You can skip the fad diets, be healthy and energetic, and lose weight eating these foods. Just make sure your calorie intake is appropriate for weight loss, because it's possible to eat too much healthy food and still gain weight.
You can also skip the fad diets, be healthy and energetic while eating butter and saturated fats and full fat dairy. Mmmm butter. Some of the fatty cuts of meat are just way more flavorful than the less fatty cuts too.0 -
You can also skip the fad diets, be healthy and energetic while eating butter and saturated fats and full fat dairy. Mmmm butter. Some of the fatty cuts of meat are just way more flavorful than the less fatty cuts too.
Losing weight is going to help your heart and body overall, probably no matter how you lose it, but according to what I understand, a diet low in saturated fat is better for heart health.0 -
I am doing everything in moderation. I do a lot of "this or that" meaning I do a little critical thinking about what I choose to eat everyday. If I need to eat out (because i'm always on the go) I say to myself "this or that" It's usually very obvious: Get the salad instead of the burger and fries. Sometimes it's: get a side salad and eat half the burger and no fries. Sometimes its Half a burger and a baked potatoe. I know this isn't as good as cooking at home, but when your running around all the time you have to just try to make the right choice. So if you aren't sure, check the web sites of restuarants for calories, its usually right here on MFP. Just make the healthest choice based on a few options. I like options and having to deside whats best and making the right choice make me feel good too, like I did something good for myself that day. Ofcourse I like to cook at home and eat a lot fresh veggies and lean meats but thats not always an option for me. I say eat fresh as much as possible and when you eat out, make a good choice for something healthy and you know a salad with grilled chicken is better than a loaded burger and fries.0
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Losing weight is going to help your heart and body overall, probably no matter how you lose it, but according to what I understand, a diet low in saturated fat is better for heart health.
I know that's the common opinion, but I've read many studies that showed that saturated fat was fine. My cholesterol improved a lot eating pretty much nothing but beef, butter, veggies and full fat cheese, which is contrary to everything you'd read. I realize that I'm only N=1
http://www.ajcn.org/content/early/2010/01/13/ajcn.2009.27725.abstract
Conclusions: A meta-analysis of prospective epidemiologic studies showed that there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD. More data are needed to elucidate whether CVD risks are likely to be influenced by the specific nutrients used to replace saturated fat.
Anyways I'm sure someone could produce an article that said the opposite so everyone needs to draw their own conclusions, I can only say that for ME, full fat foods are a LOT more palatable than low fat foods, and the studies I read lead ME to believe that they are healthy foods, and so I'm ok with MY choice to eat a diet that's high in saturated fat because I don't feel the science shows that it's bad.0 -
I have been on so many diets, and have heard so much conflicting information.... I do NOT know what is truly healthy for me anymore? I have tried:
South Beach
Atkins
Paleo
Sparkpeople
Skinny Biotch
French Diet
etc etc etc and on top of all this I am also gluten free!
HELP I feel like and IDIOT!
I'm not someone who usually follows a diet and I'm not familiar with all the diets you listed, but many of them have healthy elements -- even Atkins, which I went on for two weeks a few years ago. I read the book and even the most extreme form called for eating vegetables, and I ate as many I do normally. I also understood that I had to stop when I was satisfied; The diet did not give me license to stuff myself with bacon, regardless of the hype usually circulated about it.
Some people like formal diets because they signal a new approach to food and their lifestyle in general. The healthier diets also usually are formulated to meet certain nutrient macros and calorie levels so the dieter doesn't have to do much work (the work is in buying and and preparing the food).
Others do better with normal eating. But the truth is that if you need to lose weight, you have to create a significant calorie deficit consistently which means eliminating a number of high-calorie, nutrient-thin foods. So to me, it's still a diet.
If you're going to follow a diet, I would stay away from anything that is universally considered a fad diet, and choose one with healthy foods you enjoy.0 -
Healthy is a subjective term.
How so? Healthy would mean a body and mind in good health. Health means freedom from disease and ailment.
There are many ways to achieve healthy, and sometimes no way to achieve it, but the meaning is always the same.
What I mean is that what people define as healthy food is subjective. Some people say cheeseburgers are unhealthy and should be avoided. I say they have protein, calcium, and iron. Some people insist anything but organic and raw is unhealthy. I say that's bull.
My point is: don't complicate things. Eat what you like, make sure you get nutrients. You don't need a book to tell you what you should and shouldn't eat.0
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