All too often the average person decides to lose
weight and then refers to that weight loss attempt as a diet. The key
points to a "diet" is that there is a goal of how many pounds to lose
and the time frame allowed to complete the diet. Right there, in that
instant you have set your self up for failure because all too often we
really do not understand the true definition of the word "diet."
The
word diet really has two distinct definitions. The first one being what
you will not eat. This is a restrictive definition and it is also the
most common definition. What this usually refers to is some type of
weight loss program that mostly describes what you cannot eat. An
example of this would be a diet that excludes the consumption of
carbohydrates.
The second definition of the word diet is an all
inclusive word that refers to the overall eating habits of a person or
a culture. An example of this would be something along the lines of
describing the diet of pacific islanders which relates to the fact that
they eat mostly fish. In this definition the word diet refers to what a
person or culture can and does eat. This is not a restrictive
definition.
In one word (diet) you have two exact opposite
meanings and yet they are both accurate and correct to use. The
question you need to ask yourself before you begin your weight loss
journey is what definition are you going to label for your path. In an
effort to be a success you need to restrict the negative energy from
your life experiences and the fact that you are referring what your
"diet" is by what you are depriving yourself sets you up for a failure
before you began. When you set out on your quest for weight loss
remember that a true weight loss program does not have an end date. A
true weight loss program does not end after you lose X number of pounds
and then you can go back to eating what your diet deprived you of in
order to lose the weight.
If you really want to commit to a
weight loss journey then when you pick the number of pounds you want to
lose you must realize your diet does not end there. You must refer to
the inclusive definition and when you lose the weight you must not
think you can quit. In order to lose the weight and keep it off you
must change your lifestyle. You must rid yourself of the bad habits and
pick up some new ones. You may lose the weight but to be a true success
you need to keep the weight off and that is where the less restrictive
definition of the word diet pays off.
You can't spend the rest of
your life depriving yourself of what you like so you must learn to
incorporate what what can eat into a new lifestyle that has more
activity. You do not have to run a marathon but you do need to get off
the couch and maybe go for a walk and somewhere during your lifelong
journey it will be alright to stop an have an ice cream cone. A weight
loss journey is not about deprivation and neither should your
description of the word "diet".
