YOUR Diet, not A Diet

It's January, that time of year when people try to change themselves for the better, by learning something new, giving something up, or changing the way we look. It is the time of the year when new diets begin to take over the world of social networking, as everybody clamours for the latest way to shed the Christmas trimmings.

 Alas, a number of studies have shown that most fad diets are ineffective in the long run, with up to 90% of people who begin diets finding they have the same weight a year later. Diets like the Atkins and Dukan diet, where carbohydrates are removed from meals have substantial initial weight loss, but have a number of side effects, and once you finish the diet programme, the weight returns. The body will store particular nutrients which you do not eat regularly, as it aims to survive long term if the nutrient is not available again soon. As such, when carbs are removed from diets, when you reintroduce carbs, the body will store them. Given that carbs are eventually stored as fat in the body, you will quickly find the weight you lost by doing the diet returns as quickly as it left.

Diets where you eat a company’s brand of meal replacement powders or bars can be popular, but are a quick way to spend a lot of money on something that is available in a balanced meal, if you take the time to read the packaging. Of course you see benefits if you follow the rules, as you reduce your food intake, but are considerably unsustainable in the long term, and entirely useless when eating out, or entertaining.

Finally there are points system diets, where you can eat a number of ‘points’ per day. These methods of dieting have substantial backing, and make the idea of smaller portions and good foods seem easier to understand. Coupled with support groups and consistent monitoring, these diet plans can become more effective long term, if you are able to afford the payments, and reduce the choices that you might have when going out.

These diet methods are different in a number of ways, but the same in one fundamental failing. They are all ‘a’ diet. They are pre-determined systems, limited in their knowledge of what you do, and what you like. They have time periods, cheat days, meal times, and even hours of the day that you can eat. ‘A’ diet will always be ‘a’ plan, without ever being ‘your’ plan.

Your diet is everything you eat and drink. It will always be an individual thing, not a generalised method of fuelling your body. What you require will never be something you read in a book or online that is marketed at everyone. Your diet has to suit your lifestyle, exercise habits, health needs and nutritional deficiencies. In order to improve your diet, you must change your knowledge, not about diets, but about food, drink and most importantly, about you.

If you want long term change, you should not be on A diet, you should change YOUR diet. If your diet matches the person you want to be, you will soon find effective eating and drinking creating that person.

Visit the blog each week to find out about different foods, or post your questions about different diets, ingredients and healthy eating. We will be discussing a number of foods over the coming weeks so come back to see if they would work in YOUR diet.