Have you tried diets in the past?
Did they work for you? I’m guessing probably not.
Here’s the deal…
Diets are short term fixes and therefore the result is short term.
Sure you can make yourself miserable for 4 weeks and see some weight loss but what’s the point if you are just going to put the weight back on?
Actually, in most cases when people go on a diet they don’t just put the weight back on, they put the weight back on and then some!
So for example let’s say Herb loses 20 pounds on his new trendy diet. When Herb finally gets fed up with eating twigs and cardboard he doesn’t just gain back the 20 pounds he lost. Oh no, my man Herb tacks on that 20 pounds plus an additional 10 pounds for a total weight gain of 30 pounds after a “dieting”.
Darn Diet! Now Herb is heavier than he was before the diet and now he’s really pissed!
So what’s the answer?
The answer is to STOP DIETING!!
Sorry I had to get that out of my system. Seriously, diets are non-sense.
If you want to change the way you look for good, you need to change the way you eat for good, for the most part. The results we see from pretty much anything in life are attributed to our habits – the things we do on a regular basis.
If you eat healthy most of the time, but indulge in some not so healthy stuff once in a while, you are still going to see results.
And you don’t have to make huge diet changes overnight to start seeing results.
Small incremental changes will bring results.
And when you stack those small incremental changes over time, you get big results.
Doesn’t sound fast enough right? Summer is coming up and you need to figure out where to hide that beer gut!
Don’t worry, you’d be surprised at how much a few small changes in the way you currently eat can change your body.
And once you start seeing results, your mind starts to buy into this new way of eating.
When that happens, you start thinking differently about what you put into your body and that is when the really dramatic changes start to occur.
So the key is to work toward a “sustainable” way of eating healthy most of the time, while allowing room for indulging in some of those “less healthy” things you really love once in a while.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to say goodbye to Cheeseburgers, Pizza, Chocolate Chip Cookies or Ice Cream forever. But I want to be in amazing shape.
So what do you think? Could you live with eating some of the less healthy things “some of the time” if it meant you would be able to stay in amazing shape “all the time”? What do you think would be the hardest part about doing that?
I think you’re absolutely right Tim.
I think the paleo diet is the best solution for most people. there will always be variations and subtle changes to everyone’s way of eating. We’re all different and everyone will need to make changes to fit their lifestyle.
I hate to call it a paleo diet. That’s not what its about- it’s about being happy. Health is necessary for happiness, so diet is important.
There is a balance for everyone. We all make choices based on out values-health, looks, how we feel etc.
Everyone is one a diet- Diet just means “What you eat” Most people think it needs to be some super regimented program or nothing at all.
Great work man!
So true Armi! I digg the Paleo “style” diet but like to add my own tweaks and modifications. I just can’t imagine never eating pizza, cheeseburgers, bread dipped in olive oil etc.
This is just the motivation I need on a regular basis. As a former athlete in high school, I didn’t change my eating habits when I entered my 20’s and you can imagine the results.
Recently though I have lost 26 lbs by not “dieting” but my making meal substitutions. Instead of Burgers and Pizza for lunch and dinner, I’d make a Caesar salad. I still indulge in the foods I like, but those small changes – as you mention – make a big difference.
Also, instead of sitting when I come home from work, I’ll take a walk, or mow the lawn. Just baby steps. It’s the thinking that it has to be something HUGE that used to keep me from focusing on being fit. I am excited for the content you’ll provide here.
Thanks Troy! Wow, 26 lbs is awesome! You make some excellent points-making the right substitutions with “food” AND “time” and trying to take on HUGE tasks can be overwhelming so it’s best to focus on little steps in the right direction “most of the time” but give yourself a break sometimes too.
Good Advice Tim!
I agree that striving for a more permanent change in diet is the way to go. It’s really more about a lifestyle change, and making an effort in eating the good things in life.
However I do find value with short term diets, especially if you want to lose some quick weight before the holidays or an competition.
Add a sustainable long term “diet” and you’re GOLDEN.
Hey Jack, I agree that some short term diets can be beneficial but you need a good combination of willpower and knowledge to make them work in your favor. Ultimately you have to find a way that helps you get to where you want to be (a certain weight, body fat % etc.) and is sustainable.