The truth about almost all diets is pretty damned ugly, but here on the Holistic Health Path we want the truth no matter what it looks like, so I need to tell you why most diets fail miserably.
Remember, don’t shoot the messenger, I’m only here to help.
Weight loss and diets are among the most talked about and controversial subjects in the nutrition world.
Almost everyone has tried one sort of diet or another in an effort to shed pounds or increase one health marker or another.
I’ve been on several diets myself, before I knew better, and the same thing always happened.
When I got bored or frustrated with whatever torture regimen the diet prescribed, I’d slide back into my own bad habits and put the pounds back on.
Let me say this, though. I think almost any plan that incorporates lean meats like chicken and fish, along with plenty of plant-based foods and healthy fats will work for almost everyone.
It’s just picking something that’s sustainable, that’s where most folks go wrong.
So let’s fix that right here and now.
Fad Diets Don't Work
Fad diets can be frustrating to maintain and downright dangerous to your health.
Some sound ridiculous, such as the Cabbage Soup Diet or the Grapefruit Diet, and I think that while you may lose weight when following these regimens, I worry that once you deviate, which you most certainly will, you’ll be in worse shape than before.
In fact, weight-cycling, or yo-yo dieting, is a common problem with hopping from one fad diet to another.
Yo-yoing can be dangerous to your physical health and also play hell with your mindset as well.
Once you feel discouraged enough from losing weight and then gaining it all back again, you may be less inclined to try in the future.
You Don’t Need Another Diet
No one needs another diet. Diets are difficult to maintain and really just set you up for failure.
What I suggest is a shift in thinking.
If that sounds difficult, I’m here to dispel that myth once and for all with some sound advice.
So let’s get to it!
Here’s my 3 Step Plan for changing the way you eat, once and for all.
Step 1 - Don't Count Calories
Seriously, I believe counting calories is all crap. I know lots of people have found success with this method, but I have to call it out here as being unsustainable.
It gets old after a while, and all but the most dedicated and strongest-willed of us will abandon it sooner or later.
Instead, here’s what I propose.
Eat until you’ll full.
And then stop.
Sounds too simple, huh?
Yes, I know. It’s a radical concept, this common sense thing, since it’s missing in so much of what we do these days.
But seriously, have you ever stopped to think about why we all overeat so much these days?
I mean, the first bite tastes the same as the last bite, right?
The massive amount of processed sugar we eat in the US is responsible for obesity and is implicated in all sorts of diseases these days, from Type II diabetes to heart disease and arthritis.
And sugar has been proven to be more addictive than cocaine – so it’s no wonder we’re all hooked!
The low fat diet craze that’s been touted by the government and lots of other well respected institutions for the past few decades has really done a number on our waistlines, not to mention our overall health.
I’m all for a low-fat diet, but I won’t buy anything that says low fat on it.
What I mean by low fat is lean meats like chicken and fish, and only very occasionally a piece of grass-fed beef.
Low fat, processed foods are slowly making us all sick, in my opinion.
Step 2 - Plant One On Me
Make most of your diet plant-based. Fresh, healthy vegetables and fresh fruits should replace canned, packaged varieties every chance you have.
I’m proposing that two thirds of your diet should be from plants, and it’s not that hard to do when you think about it.
I have some ideas about to accomplish this.
Although I’m not a vegetarian, I try to make it a point to eat two or three meatless dinners a week.
Most of us eat meat without thinking about it. We just make it part of our everyday lives, and each meal revolves around consuming some sort of meat.
As I said, there’s nothing wrong with eating meat, but I think we should shift our focus from making it a main part of our diet to something that takes a backseat to fresh, healthy veggies.
So on nights when you’re eating meat, try to fill 2/3 of your plate with fresh vegetables and reduce the meat portion.
You can also try great new recipes like this one from The Pioneer Woman - Veggie Stir Fry
And if you just can’t stand the taste of those green leafy vegetables, don’t forget that you can work them into your daily routine with a tasty green smoothie like one from this article of mine.
We all know we eat too much processed food, and sometimes it’s hard to break those bad habits.
The food manufacturers have made things so easy for us with their pre-packaged and conveniently portioned food items that we forget what it’s like to slice and dice vegetables rather than opening a can or a box.
I say get back to the basics and discover what fresh food really tastes like again.
It’ll do your health and wellness a world of good.
Step 3 - Planning For Success
This is undoubtedly where most people fail, and I am one of them. My planning skills have never quite measured up. I believe in the power of planning and preparation, but I’ve never been really good at it.
Things have changed for me recently, however, and this area is so important that I’d like to dive into it in detail.
Does this sound familiar?
You come home from work exhausted after spending all day slogging away at your desk, fighting traffic for an hour on the freeway, and it’s all you can do to drag yourself in the house and slump down on the couch?
And it’s only Monday!
The last thing you feel like doing is thinking about something healthy to prepare for yourself and your family, so you take the easy way out and slip into take-out mode and order a couple of pizzas, oh, and throw in an order of chicken wings, please?
Who could blame you? It’s all delicious, quick, and everybody loves it, right?
This is the point at which all good intentions, and most diet regimens, get thrown out the window.
And it can all be avoided with a little planning.
Here’s how I get it done, and I think it’ll work for you, too.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
Lately I’ve been setting some time aside on Sunday evening to make a meal plan for the week, and I’m finding this works best for me.
Nothing much is going on at that time, and I have a pretty clear picture of what the week will look like schedule-wise, so I can confidently prepare a solid plan.
I use good old-fashioned pen and paper for this, but there are plenty of smartphone apps that will get the job done for you, and for some people they might be more convenient, so don’t be afraid to explore that route.
I plan for each night of the week that I know we’ll be home, as well as lunches for work so I don’t get caught making poor decisions in line in the cafeteria.
The whole process takes about 15 minutes, unless I’m trying to find new recipes to try, and at the end of my planning session I have a nice set of healthy meals that everyone enjoys, as well as a shopping list for my trip to the grocery store.
If I’m trying a new recipe I make sure I have all the spices and ingredients on hand, or add them to the grocery list.
Another tip that goes a long way towards making sure you’re successful with healthy eating is to prepare as much as you can ahead of time.
You can clean mushrooms, clean and peel carrots, prepare Brussels sprouts and chop peppers and onions ahead of time so meal assembly and cooking is a breeze.
Basically, any step you can take to simplify your decision making and mealtime prep will be a step towards a healthier you.
Diets Are Out - Common Sense Is In
As we said at the beginning, sometimes all that’s required is a dose of good old-fashioned common sense.
I’m sure these tips are things you probably already know and just need to put into practice.
That’s always the hardest part, isn’t it?
The last piece of advice I’ll offer is this.
Choose Healthy!
Just do it, your body will thank you, and before you know it, you won’t be craving those fast food fixes and sugar rushes any longer!
To Your Optimum Health!
Ted
