If you’re feeling confused about which diet is the best for you, then it’s no wonder!
Doing the rounds at the moment are paleo, intermittent fasting, the 5:2 diet, low carb, high fat, clean eating plans, ketogenic, or the ultimate new kid on the block, the one I fondly refer to as the “raw-gluten-free-holistic-ballistic-organic-superfood-instafamous-wannabe-model-or-yoga-chick-diet.” (You know, the one where you follow the dietary advice of the five most unqualified, popular, and fit looking people on your newsfeed.)
But seriously, I hear people say all the time, “I just want to lose a bit of weight and tone up. Which diet is best for me?”
All of the above diets certainly have their own merits, and if you followed each as directed I imagine you would experience some sort of result. Whether that result is the one you want, and whether the diet is sustainable or healthy long term is another story.
Now, before all the paleo fans start sharpening their wooly mammoth tusks and hunt me down, I’d like to say that I am not here to badmouth or discredit any of these diets.
Falling Off the Wagon
Too often clients seeking nutrition counseling come with a story that goes something like this: “I was following X diet [low carb, paleo, raw foods, or any other] and I got really great results for a while but then I stopped it and fell into old habits which has led me back to where I started, [or worse].”
Why is it that people who are actually getting the results they want are continually falling off the wagon?
The answer is actually really simple. When you are following a set of ideals, beliefs, or rules that are not inherently your own, more often than not you wind up unable to follow said rules for any extended period of time. Or at best, you do actually follow the rules—and may do so with neurotic obsession—yet deep down you slowly build a resistance, feel deprived, and regularly binge eat and then beat yourself up for it.
So while the dietary guidelines themselves may be sound, the simple fact that you can’t stick to it makes the whole thing counterproductive and often harmful.
Craving Accumulation
If you really love some type of food, cutting it out entirely can lead feelings of deprivation. (PJPhoto69/thinkstockphotos.com)
Here are a couple of rather common examples: Sally follows a strict paleo diet, and it has actually worked wonders for her. Problem is though, there is nothing in the world that Sally enjoys more than ice cream and a warm cup of tea (white, no sugar) after a long day. Staying true to her paleo brethren, Sally avoids dairy at all cost and whips up a batch of coconut milk, cocoa, and almond butter ice cream (which is exactly what cavemen did with their Breville back in the day), and while it tastes pretty damn good, it doesn’t quite hit the spot. Although Sally is being a good little cavewoman, she is left craving her Ben and Jerry’s.
On a not so different dietary planet, Barry has lost 20 pounds in three weeks on a no carb, high-fat ketogenic diet. Hard to argue with those results right? Problem is that there is nothing Barry looks forward to more than peanut butter on toast with breakfast.
Now while initially both Sally and Barry experience great results, in time they reach a point where they feel so restricted that they either give up completely, or begin a binge and shame cycle, the most common being the popular “I’m perfect all week and then lose control on the weekends” recurring pattern … sound familiar?
Now the most ironic thing is that all of these diets claim the catch-cry of “it has to be implemented as a lifestyle,” which is all well and good, as long as it is in line with your lifestyle! That is: your goals, values, and body.
Eating for Your Goals
Do you consider your fitness goals when you eat? (Brand X Pictures/thinkstockphotos.com)
Eating for your goals means that rather than changing your life to match a diet, you change the diet to match your life.
What this entails is eating the foods you actually enjoy (novel idea right?) in the amounts and at the times that will get you to your goal. So if you absolutely cannot live without peanut butter on toast, then we find a healthy way for you to eat your peanut butter on toast, while still reaching your goals.
Say no to eliminating entire food groups just because other people might do so. I mean seriously, unless you have been diagnosed by a doctor with celiac disease then its probably OK for you to eat a bit of gluten. Similarly, if—like for Sally—ice cream is your thing and you are not allergic to any of the ingredients (and I mean actually allergic not just self diagnosed) then it’s OK to have the odd serving of ice cream—let alone a dash of milk in your cup of tea!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you should eat any and all foods whenever you please, nor should you consume food groups which you’ve proven don’t agree with you, but rather don’t impose unnecessary restrictions on yourself for the sake of abiding to the status quo.
I recommend having any food-related gastrointestinal issues like bloating, intolerances, allergies, and the like tested and treated by a qualified professional. In my experience, the underlying cause is often not the food (or food group) that triggers the symptom you experience. Get a professional’s opinion before eliminating any foods or food groups, and get real peace of mind.
Weight loss shouldn’t be a struggle, and if you aren’t 100 percent comfy and satisfied with your diet then I recommend you rethink your strategy.
What Works
The answer is to build a balanced diet of nutrient dense foods that you actually enjoy eating and which work for your body. If you are anything like me, you don’t always have the time to cook and photograph meals for your Instagram friends.
When all the hype and initial excitement of your new diet has died down—which is usually about day three, let’s be honest—you are the one that has to cook and eat the food, and it’s at this critical time that you want to be looking forward to your next meal, knowing that it has been specifically calculated not only to reach your goals but to match your taste buds and your busy schedule.
Diet Evolution
As you progress, so should your plan. Are you losing weight really quickly? Great, let’s give you some more food! Feeling peckish mid morning? Experiencing an afternoon energy slump? Adjust your plan in real time to ensure that all these bases are covered … Not only does this mean no starving, deprivation, or feeling less than impressed with what’s in your lunch bag, but it also enables you to literally control the rate at which your body changes, which means fast. Are you starting to see the real value of a custom-made plan?
Dietary Freedom
You see, when you make the switch from following the latest craze blindly to doing what’s right by your own body, not only does this instantly increase your chances of actually sticking to it, but you are no longer following any diet, and in time this naturally becomes the way you eat. Now that’s dietary freedom.
This is the true meaning of lifestyle because you are living your life in your own style!
I’m going to go one step further and suggest that the only way you will ever experience true dietary freedom is by learning to eat in line with your own body and goals.
Over the last few years alone I have seen a lot of latest hype diets come and go, yet one thing remains the same: Only the people who adapt a diet to meet their tastes, goals, and lifestyle ever stay the course long enough to keep their new bods. With that in mind it actually makes choosing which diet is best for you really simple.
Fusing the latest in sports, performance, and weight loss nutrition with holistic wellness practices, while cultivating true emotional and lifestyle balance, Anthony and his team at Pure and Lean Nutrition System transform the bodies, minds, and lives of everyday people all over the world. www.facebook.com/pureandlean
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