How to avoid the dangers of dieting and food fads
In winter we slow down more, eat more, rest more and as a result, we can (potentially) come out the other end slightly heavier than we went in.
Right? Anyone feelin’ that?
Firstly, I just wanna say - this is okay.
Because I know that sometimes it DOES NOT feel okay.
But it is.
So with that said, I hazard at a guess people are starting to think about their food a little more. Perhaps even searching for a diet to help lose the extra kgs or to help those shorts feel a little better?
Am I right?
I don’t diet. But I do change my food with the climate and season. And the days are getting warmer and longer, so change is near. And it is important to change what we eat with the seasons; I have written about that here.
Today however, I wanted to offer my tips on: HOW TO CHOOSE A SUSTAINABLE DIET (AND AVOID FOOD FADS)
I am sure you’ve noticed that there is a plethora of diets out there, and it can be really hard to know what to do. So that is why I hope these tips help you to narrow down your direction.
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
Not exactly what we hear in the media, right? All diets in the media promote fast turnaround. But the thing is the body does not like sudden or frequent changes. The metabolism functions best through regularity. Which means, when making a change in your diet, make it gradual.
CONSISTENCY WINS
Along with gradual change, the body also likes consistent change. Which means, stick to your choice for a period long enough to see if it works for you - give it at least 30 days to see how you are feeling. Going from one thing to another (which is tempting if you lean toward “shiny object syndrome”) will only lower enzyme function and assimilation, and disrupt your metabolism.
IS IT A LONG TERM THING?
And when we say long term we mean: your whole life. That is the difference between a fad diet and a lifestyle choice. A lifestyle choice is sustainable and gradual, something you can maintain with grace and ease, over time. If something is hard to maintain, then perhaps it is a fad diet.
WEIGHTLOSS, YES. BUT WHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE?
A lot of diets are aimed at weight-loss, with a significant lack of consideration of this fact: humans are a complete mind, body and spirit system. Which means: we cannot focus on only one thing (unless we are chasing imbalance - which we are not).
And this is the reason why we see so many people tip the scale (pun intended) and go a little obsessed / crazy when trying to lose weight. And that is becasue there is too much focus on one thing. Your nutritional choices need to nourish all of you – mind, body and spirit (not just the body).
And quickly (because I need to go load the truck for tomorrow's market), a few other things to consider when choosing a diet:
Is there a historical basis or at least one generation of use before you, who have tried and tested the diet? (Who wants to be a guinea pig with their health – not me!)
Is there flexibility around the individual’s metabolism, environment, and personal needs? No dogma allowed.
Is the program educating you about your mind and body, or is it enslaving you to social conditions, high-tech products, and other products?
And that's it my friends. For those of you seeking change, I do hope that helps.
