This year, resolve NOT to go on a diet.
That’s right, because diets don’t work.
Why would a DIETitian at DIET ID tell you to avoid diets? Because while the definition of “diet” as “a pattern of eating” is an agnostic, non-judgmental, descriptive term, the phrase “going on a diet” or the word “diet” as a verb (as in, “I’m dieting”) is an entirely different meaning of the word. We embrace the former and reject the latter. Here’s why.
“Going on a diet” implies short-term. Eating a certain way for a little while and then returning to old habits is the main reason that just about every diet fails. Going on a diet also implies deprivation and calorie restriction, neither of which is sustainable or enjoyable in the least.
Rather, we encourage building small, gradual, healthy habits, one day at a time, to achieve a healthy weight and reduced risk of chronic disease (even disease reversal).
How is that achievable? Consider that our fast-paced, instant-gratification culture has nurtured a chain of food habits that promotes flavoring over savoring and convenience over wholesomeness. Poor food habits, over time, breed a system of beliefs and expectations that eventually become the norm. Regular takeout, exaggerated portion sizes, excessively salty/sweet/fatty foods, and frequent use of packaged meals and snacks were historically occasional indulgences, but have, for many of us, become the rule rather than the exception.
In order to flip this around, we need to focus on simple, healthy food choices, moderately sized and wholesome meals and snacks. This isn’t easy to do. We need to rehab our taste buds, recalibrate our plates, and make the healthy choice the easy choice.
That’s what Diet ID is about: we don’t endorse any one type of diet (eating pattern) or particular food. We don’t say you need to completely cut out any one food or food group. Instead, we help you figure out where you are (how you’re eating now), where you’d like to go (what sort of eating pattern you’d like to achieve), and how to get there (small, step-by-step lifestyle behaviors to practice and master). We reward progress over perfection and celebrate every success, small or large. Our solution is personalized, flexible, and simple. But best of all, it’s effective — not just today, not just tomorrow, but for life.
So this year, why not set realistic, meaningful health goals? To achieve them, resolve to make small, meaningful changes, whether it’s to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies, to eat only when hungry, to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, to plan your meals and snacks in advance, or to eat real food in place of packaged. We are here to support you and help you succeed!
