Diet, Diet, Diet, Diet
Thursday, July 07, 2011
There - I feel like a little kid saying a swear word. Who started giving the word diet a bad rap? Some fat orange cat who said " Diet" was the word "Die" with a "T", in the Sunday comics? I am so tired of seeing people comment on blogs with the pretentious words "diets don't work - only portion control and exercise are the way to go" or "you shouldn't be on a "diet" you should be on a "lifestyle plan". "Diets" don't work.
Get over yourselves. You're eating food right? That's a diet. Whether you're eating food to lose weight or eating food to live - the food you eat still comprises a diet. In other words a "diet" is a lifestyle plan, by definition.
Now for the word "fad". That just means a diet that " is embraced very enthusiastically for a short time". It doesn't necessarily mean that it is unhealthy. Just that people have a short attention span. I just lost 28lbs. on a "fad diet", because it's a plan that has gone viral. In a while, some other plan will have everyone crazed over it. For me, it's not a temporary fix - it's healthy, whole, nutrient rich, food for life. It's my permanent "dieta" or way of life.
There are a lot of unhealthy eating plans out there. The diet industry is a billion dollar industry because most fat people are looking for a quick fix. If you read in a blog that someone is only eating bananas and leafy greens, then by all means politely suggest they see a nutritionist, a shrink or a zookeeper. Remind them that the ones who are successful DIETERS are those that choose healthy foods for the long term. They don't just eat healthy, lose their weight and go back to eating junk. Their healthy "diet" is their way of life.
So all you people who slam the word "diet" as soon as you see it in print -give it a rest.