I heard many complaints about difficulties of following a diet, whether it is low sodium, low fat, low carb or another sort of diet. I wonder why changing eating habits is so hard for many. It is true that changing habits in general is difficult, but when it comes to eating habits, there is also a major factor of someone’s metabolism being used to functioning and consuming at certain pace.
Though biological factors are accepted, I believe for many, dieting is hard because we make them hard to adopt in our minds. Let me list some of the mental hindrances we create in our minds:
1) “Dieting is only for the ill or the weak”: A typical weight loss commercial shows a guy who has just lost 65 pounds in three months. We sometimes hear a relative or a friend getting hospitalized due to cardiovascular problems and put on a low sodium diet by his doctor due to his condition. Events like this, whether happening in real life or commercials, tilt our view of dieting, as an activity we engage in when we are sick, weak or have some sort of health problem.
We should understand that a ‘diet’ can be followed by perfectly healthy individuals. For instance, any individual that is aware of extremely high content of sodium in canned soups can choose to avoid regular canned soups in favor of their low sodium or “heart healthy” versions. In other words, you can follow a diet just to stay healthy. Being on a diet should not mean acceptance of weakness for you.
In fact, when you are on a diet, forget that you are on a diet! Just remind yourself that this is how a healthy person should eat.
2) “Dieting is boring”: That is true especially when taste element is sacrificed in a diet. When you cut down on carbs, you crave for breads and desserts more. When you cut down on salt, you crave salty foods more. There is no way we can deny that!
However, don’t you think we give up too fast by saying that? Maybe we can find alternatives. For instance, for the lack of salt, a low sodium dieter can use spices while preparing their meals. A person on a low fat diet can prepare a delicious sandwich at home rather buying it from that chain restaurant that makes the best subs! I understand some of these alternatives are not our top choices, but think about the prize: Your health. Isn’t it worth some sacrifice?
3) “Dieting is difficult”: First find out what ‘difficult’ means for you. Is it financial or you just don’t have the time for it? Time and money are the most common difficulties I hear. For those that claim following a diet is expensive, first let me say that you don’t need those diet programs that cost you every month or the “health” drinks that cost you few bucks at each purchase. All you need to do is to understand which foods are good for your dietary goals and use them to make your own meals!
Now I hear many complaints about that too: “I don’t have time for cooking”, “I work 12 hours a day”, or “I never cooked in my life”. Well, not cooking for yourself is like letting another person drive your car. Unless you are very confident about his driving skills, you wouldn’t let him, would you? I am not claiming that with restaurant chefs and cooks we are taking big risks. No, what I am saying is cooking your own meal means having more control over what you put into your system! Nobody knows how to take care of you better than you.
4) “Dieting is hard to start and easy to end”: This complaint usually comes from those following “diet programs” advertised out there. Most diet programs specify which meal you should eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of a week. These programs are very harmful for new dieters, as they are very difficult to follow. Most of them are not personalized. Even the ones that are do not consider your work schedule and finances. Some people can’t buy fish or avocados three times a week! Therefore, these programs make dieting more difficult rather than easier for many. Once started, it is easy to lose track of these programs as the program itself is hard to track especially for those with active work/family schedules.
The good news is you don’t need to eat certain meals at certain order to improve your health. You just need to learn and understand the right foods for your dietary goals (such as losing weight, decreasing blood pressure, strengthening immune system, etc.). Make your own system, a system you can easily follow, something achievable, reasonable for your conditions. Make sure the system is flexible, so anytime you can’t follow it you don’t feel like you failed it. Writing down your own diet program will not only increase the chances of sticking with your diet but also help you keep your money in your pocket!
Realizing that my comments may be too harsh or direct, I apologize to those whose dietary conditions don’t apply to any of the cases I mentioned above. The gist of my writing is to share with you the following views:
- Forget about what others say about diets. Just eat the right foods for your health to enhance your well-being. Don’t even call it ‘diet’; just accept it as part of healthy living.
- When encountered difficulties following a diet, search alternatives first (like cooking instead of dining out, using spices instead of salt).
- Last but not the least, control your diet: Don’t let food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants and those fancy commercials dictate your decisions.
Be positive, one small step at a time, you can do it.
Best Wishes,
Umit
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