Jill Starbuck
For health reasons, we should all abandon the word “diet.” That’s right. Diet is a four-letter word that conjures up anxiety, failure, depression, irritability, and deprivation. For many of us, “diet” refers to a temporary fix. Fad diets flood the Internet, television, magazines, books, and more. But that’s all they are, a fad. They eventually lose their appeal.
According to Boston Medical Center, approximately 45 million Americans each year try a diet and spend approximately $33 billion on diets. The sad news is that only 20% of people who attempt a diet lose weight and maintain the weight loss. For the rest, they eventually put the weight back on—sometimes more. Statistics also show that diets are doing nothing for our country as an overwhelming number of people fall into the overweight or obese category—nearly 70%! That’s a lot of people spending a lot of money to set themselves up for failure
So why are diets failing, even though Americans have the best intentions? Most of these diets are unrealistic. They drastically restrict calories; eliminate food groups; reduce the amount of carbohydrates, protein, or fat without taking into account the individual; or they entice us to buy manufactured shakes, bars, and other supplements. Every person requires an individual formula in order to succeed. Sometimes it takes a process of elimination to figure it out. In contrast, outlined diets such as fad diets that anyone can try simply do not work for every individual. These types of diets lead to fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, and a number of other side effects.
Rather than trying a “diet,” focus on changing your eating habits. Reach for more natural foods such as fresh fruits & vegetables, nuts, grains, and unprocessed meat. Realistically, we will be tempted by processed foods. However, if we eat healthy the majority of the time, we are bound to feel better, have fewer health ailments, and weigh less. But this process can take a while since we are surrounded by packaged food and other foods that lead to addiction – such as sugar-laden products. Take small steps by weeding out processed foods, such as most boxed or frozen meals.
If we are going to spend billions of dollars to try a diet, then we should seek a doctor, a nutritionist, or a health coach who can provide a better guideline than a one-for-all fad diet. These experts can factor in any special dietary needs, allergies, calorie requirements, and more. The best thing to do is to banish diets forever and change your eating habits today. After a while, you become used to the new way of eating and diet as we know it today becomes a thing of the past. It simply becomes the way you eat.
