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After 40 years on the Diet Yo-Yo, I tried all the diets with varying degrees of success in the short term but none for maintaining any loss. It was so frustrating. I’d do the hard work to lose at least some of the pounds or perhaps even reach goal, and then it’s celebration time. I get to “eat whatever I want.” Hence 40 New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight.
The gurus will say, “Diets do not work.” Honestly, any diet can help you lose, but that’s only a part of the equation. The value in a diet or a nutrition plan is not for the weight loss but for the research into what works or doesn’t work for YOUR body. Even within your plan of choice, there will be variations that are more and less effective for your individual chemistry.
Questions to consider:
- What keeps you satisfied? If you are not satisfied, hunger pangs will tank your willpower, and your survival instinct will drive you to food – whatever is easy in that moment. How does that work out normally?
- What kicks your cravings into high gear? Cravings often drive us to poor choices, so managing them gives you the most control.
- What foods make you feel great physically, mentally, and emotionally, and what foods do not? If a food makes you feel physically unwell or causes cramping or bloating, is it worth it? If certain foods create a foggy feeling, or if another makes you jittery or irritable, how does that help you after you’ve swallowed it?
You may well be surprised. You may be encouraged. You may find the balance that works best for YOUR body. From that, you can create a plan that works in the long term. How cool would that be?
I know tracking food can be a real pain, but consider tracking not so much the food you take in but how you feel over the next week. How do certain foods or meals leave you feeling? Might be quite an adventure of discovery. Might change your life.
