what's your diet?

I have never understood the concept of "dieting." People diet for various reasons, but it stems from something you want to change about yourself. So...you "diet" for a given period of time, and it ends, and then what? Why does it end? You deprived yourself of certain foods, and when you reached your goal, you are suddenly done dieting. Most of the time, you go back to eating the same foods you were "dieting" from, and then gain back the weight you lost or a health problem you were trying to get under control. What was the point? Why the deprivation and hard work when it just goes back to how it was before you started the diet?

...Because I don't agree with "dieting, and I don't think it works. At all.

It might resolve something temporarily, but it's not a long term solution. There has to be a lifestyle change--a fix--something more permanent than losing 5 pounds only to gain it back when you eat a piece of bread when you are "done" with your diet. It's a vicious cycle that doesn't seem to end, and leaves you frustrated on a regular basis. The key is to find a way of eating and fueling your body properly where you don't feel like you're on a diet--where you feel great all the time, and where you're not depriving yourself of calories. At first it may feel like you're depriving yourself if you're used to eating certain processed foods and refined sugars, but once you detox from those things you will realize that eating properly will make you feel so much better than previously, so you won't want to go back down the processed path.

I'm not going to argue for a certain lifestyle change over another, but I want to talk about something that has helped me find a better balance in my daily eating habits, along with not fluctuating very much in my weight, having more energy, and minimizing cravings. Most people right now are calling it the "caveman diet," also referred to as "paleo." From what I've read, the GAPS diet seems to be very similar. There is also a book out called Wheat Belly that is part of this family. It's not just a gluten free way of eating, it also eliminates anything processed and refined (just because something is gluten free, doesn't mean it can't be processed). It focuses on real organic foods--grass fed meats, fruits & veggies, and healthy fats.

The main thing is to listen to your body, and stop fueling it with processed foods, chemicals, and genetically modified products. Stop giving your body fake energy. Once you start eating real foods, you will become more in tune with your body and will better know what it needs and doesn't need.

Whatever "diet" you start today, make it a lifestyle diet and commit to maintaining it from here on out. Enjoy a cheat meal or day once a week, and then get right back on track. You will notice the cravings subside, and you won't have a problem getting back on track the next day because you know how good your body feels when you are fueling it with the proper foods.

bon appetit!